Cocoa smuggling

Cocoa smuggling is the illegal transportation of cocoa beans across an international border, in contravention of local laws and regulations. It is particularly an issue in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, the world's largest and second largest cocoa producers, respectively. Cocoa prices are fixed and guaranteed in the two countries by their respective regulatory bodies, the Ivorian Coffee and Cocoa Board [fr] (CCC) and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD). Cocoa farmers who smuggle their crop therefore do so in hopes of fetching higher market prices in countries where cocoa prices are not regulated. The destination countries of cocoa smuggled from Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana (other than each other) are Guinea, Liberia, and Togo.

The Ivorian and Ghanaian governments have implemented a number of countermeasures to curtail cocoa smuggling at their borders. Both governments have task forces dedicated to the prevention of agricultural smuggling, with Ghana having one which specifically targets cocoa smugglers. The Ghanaian and Ivorian legal systems have steep penalties for those found guilty of cocoa smuggling; individuals face a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, while companies risk losing their operating licences. To encourage farmers not to smuggle their cocoa, both governments have occasionally hiked up their cocoa prices ahead of scheduled increases.