A joint Military/police Task Force has intercepted four cargo trucks loaded with lumber at the Asumura portion of the Subin Forest Reserve in the Asunafor North municipality of the Brong-Ahafo Region, being smuggled to Cote d’lvoire.
The wood, suspected to originate from the Subin Forest Reserve were branded as transit goods en-route to Techiman.
Briefing The Ghanaian Times, Mr. Thomas okyere, the Regional Manager in charge of the Forestry Commission, mentioned Yakubu Mumuni, Alhassan Ali, Sumaila Mumuni and Issaka Mumuni as the drivers arrested.
They were driving trucks with registration numbers 11HN33880BF, AS 8844-11, BA2761-13, and 11GL3378 respectively.
Mr. Okyere said, he had information about the illegal activities taking place at the Subin Forest Reserve which is on the border with Cote d’lvoire and quickly informed the District office at Goaso, in the Asunafo North municipality.
The Task Force, he said, laid siege leading to the arrest of the fur drivers with the goods, and sent them to the District Office at Goaso.
He said the drivers who had been processed for court refused to mention the owner of the consignment, except to say that they were contracted to carry the goods.
Mr. Okyere said investigations had revealed that those behind the activities obtained the wood from the forest and conveyed them out to the frontiers of the boarder and then loaded them as transit goods in order to outwit security.
Times investigations have revealed that top businessmen and politicians in the region and beyond, were behind the illegal trade.
<<Print>>