The Ivory Coast army has suspended five officials from a border town in the west of the country after an investigation revealed their involvement in cocoa trafficking. The officials, including the town’s prefect, police commissioner, and other key security figures, were accused of facilitating the illegal movement of cocoa beans across the border into Guinea during the December 2024 holiday period.
The suspensions follow allegations that large quantities of cocoa were smuggled out of Ivory Coast, undermining the country’s anti-trafficking efforts. According to industry sources, between 50,000 and 75,000 metric tons of Ivorian cocoa have been trafficked since the beginning of the 2024/25 season, primarily to neighboring Guinea and Liberia.
Smuggling activities have already begun to affect the cocoa trade, with exporters reporting a decline in the amount of cocoa reaching official ports. The smuggling is further complicated by the involvement of local authorities meant to curb trafficking, highlighting issues of corruption within the region’s enforcement structures.
The Ivory Coast government has yet to comment on the broader implications of the smuggling activity, but the army’s actions indicate growing concerns about the impact on the nation’s key cocoa export industry. Cocoa is one of the country’s most significant agricultural products, and any disruptions to its trade could have substantial economic consequences.
