By Fatima Muraina
The Ondo State Government, through the Produce Sub-Sector of the State Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, has impounded a trailer loaded with dried cocoa placenta and cocoa pods, used as adulterants for cocoa beans.

The vigilant staff of the Produce Department apprehended the suspects while offloading the trailer at an unregistered produce facility on Road 13, Avenue 21, Funbi Fagun, Ondo, the headquarters of Ondo West Local Government Area.
The Head of Publicity and Media Relations, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr. Sola Omoboyowa, in a statement signed and made available to the media, noted that the success resulted from the collaborative efforts of cocoa merchants in Ondo and the State Government to rid the state of economic saboteurs.

The Produce Department received a tip-off about a trailer loaded with adulterants being offloaded in Ondo, and a director in the department, Mr. Rufus Akinnadeju, led other staff to the scene. The trailer was impounded and taken to Akure.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Chief Olayato Aribo, applauded the officers of the department for their proactive measures and urged them not to relent in their efforts to rid the state of economic saboteurs.

Speaking through the Permanent Secretary of Forestry/Produce Sub-Sector of the Ministry, Mr. Oluwagbenga Akingbasote, MNI, the Commissioner stated that the government would not stand by and allow individuals to undermine the cocoa trade in the state.

According to him, the Ministry, through the Produce Department, is legally empowered to supervise, monitor, and register produce buyers in the state. He added that, as a regulatory body, they would continue to work diligently to ensure the state remains free from economic saboteurs who deliberately harm the cocoa and other produce trades in the state.

He commended the efforts of cocoa merchants in Ondo for providing timely information that led to the impoundment of the trailer, stressing that the fight against adulteration is a collective effort, and everyone must work together to stop adulteration in the produce trade, both in the state and nationwide.