Old Akrade: In a significant operation against illegal cocoa trade, the Anti-Cocoa Smuggling Taskforce of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), in partnership with national security, has captured a driver and his mate for attempting to smuggle 100 bags of cocoa beans in Old Akrade, Asuogyaman district. According to Ghana News Agency, the arrests were made after the taskforce received a midnight tip-off about suspicious activities involving the transportation of cocoa beans toward Togo. Surveillance led to the discovery of the cocoa beans hidden beneath a layer of chippings inside a tipper truck bearing the registration GN-1773-24. The operation highlighted the taskforce's ongoing efforts to combat the smuggling of cocoa, which poses a significant threat to Ghana's cocoa industry. The security source pointed out that the smugglers possibly used a ferry to cross the lake at Senchi, bypassing major checkpoints on Adomi Bridge, to transport the illicit cargo to Juapong and then onward to their final destination. Gh ana's cocoa sector has been under pressure from various challenges including smuggling, climate change, disease, and the impacts of illegal mining. The profitability of cocoa in neighboring Ivory Coast and Togo, attributed to a more stable CFA franc and less stringent regulations, has exacerbated smuggling activities. By the end of June this year, Ghana reported a cocoa production of 429,323 metric tons, a sharp decline to less than 55 percent compared to average production levels in previous years. Losses due to cocoa smuggling have dramatically increased, with estimates showing the country lost about 160,000 tons in the 2023/24 period alone. Despite these challenges, the task force has managed to intercept approximately 250 tons of smuggled cocoa, marking a significant increase from the 17 tons recorded in the previous season.