Ondo police arrest another suspect in N141.75m cocoa theft case
By Boye Oyeyemi –
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested another suspect in connection with the alleged theft of cocoa beans valued at N141.75 million belonging to Agro Traders Ltd.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, noting that the arrest followed ongoing investigations into the case, first reported in November 2025.
According to the statement, operatives of the Command Monitoring Unit apprehended the suspect, Gabriel Emmanuel, 35, in Kaduna on February 9, 2026, after tracking his movements through intelligence-led operations.
Police investigations revealed that Emmanuel allegedly conspired with other members of a syndicate to steal 189 bags of cocoa beans in batches before transporting the products for sale in Akure.
The stolen items were reportedly taken to the residence of one Esther John, where they were sold, while proceeds from the transactions were allegedly paid into Emmanuel’s bank account and later shared among the suspects.
The police said the suspect fled Akure to Kaduna with his family after learning that some of his accomplices had been arrested, but he was eventually tracked and apprehended using technological tools.
The command added that Emmanuel had confessed to the crime and provided useful information to investigators, noting that all suspects would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Commissioner of Police Adebowale Lawal reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling economic crimes, assuring residents and the business community that offenders would be prosecuted and urging the public to continue providing credible information to aid crime prevention.
