Cocoa smuggling

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.

[6][7] However, these fixed prices are updated periodically and do not match the pace of inflation or market fluctuations caused by economic shocks.

[17] In 2018, the Ivorian government passed a law which imposed a maximum sentence of ten years in prison and a fine of 50 million West African francs on those found guilty of agricultural smuggling.

[21] Ghana suffered a financial crisis in 2014, during which many cocoa farmers smuggled their crop into Côte d'Ivoire to earn more money.

On 8 May, a truck carrying 130 bags of cocoa covered in wood chippings was intercepted by police in the Kwahu South District of the Eastern Region.

[25] A week later, on 15 May, Ghanaian soldiers patrolling near Kpong Dam intercepted a truck carrying 231 bags of cocoa hidden under animal feed.

[2][3] On 17 May, the circuit court of Odumase Krobo handed prison sentences ranging from five to seven years to three people found guilty of being involved in cocoa smuggling.

[20][28] A report by the Ivorian NGO Initiatives for Community Development and Forest Conservation (IDEF), published on 22 April 2024, claimed that a significant amount of cocoa circulating in Côte d'Ivoire's western supply chain had come from neighbouring Liberia.

[21] In September 2024, COCOBOD CEO Joseph Boahen Aidoo accused the Russian government of being involved in cocoa smuggling through illegal purchases by the Wagner Group in neighbouring countries.