Customs scam in the savannahOnce dawn breaks I am up again, trying to locate the facilities of this shabby place I spent the night. The couple with the motorcycle episode still on my mind, I find my way to the washroom.What a washing room it is. The cold water from the well helps me to clear my mind at once. I have a difficult task ahead of me, and I need lots of luck to get my merchandise out of the customs clutches. So mad the whole story sounds. No one would ever imagine the agonizing moments I go through with these officials. Like leeches they prey on their targets. Without remorse their approach to empty your pockets. The night before I visited the local hawkers and to my astonishment I found quiet palatable food. Without a meal the whole day I was hungry. And I found it in form of a decent Spaghetti Bolognaise, and some 'sauce 'd arachides' a peanut butter based sauce. All served with stewed rice. It is amazing how the dishes were of agreeable taste. The prices here are extra cheap.The appointment with the customs officials is set to 08.00 AM. I drive up to the main junction that links the western border Bougoula. The northern and eastern route takes you to Kankan and Niani. The customs building is a simple tin roof thatched house. The main negotiating room is on the left of the road. The construction is a raw concrete floor. Some wooden chairs, and a grass covered rooftop, open to all sites with a clear view. Whatever, whoever passes through here, is subject to pay 'road tax', in one way or another. The capital is far and here the officials can act as they see fit. The night before I drove up to the main junction, the Customs officials on duty sitting near a bonfire. One of the huts serves to control vehicles that pass through here. They told me to report the next morning, having no choice I will follow the order. Again the officer who we found at the entry point to Mandiana tells me that I do not have valid car papers. This adds to my already big problem.. I drive up to the inspection point. There is the initial exchange of welcoming : 'bienvenue'. The officials, three of them, begin their process. All eyes focus on the big Renault articulator, now parked at the side, under scrutiny of the customs. They will not let go of this truck till they receive their share. The one in charge appears, with the copy of the transit invoice in his hand and tells me the amount involved. The figure is somewhat less than at the Bougoula border, but it is still beyond my acceptable figure. I insist that the value on the invoice is incorrect. The official displays the transit documents, and I realize the blunder made by my own staff. The value on the documents contained an error, committed by the Ivorian Customs. By now the whole crew from the truck has gathered around the vehicle. I request the original invoice issued by our company back in Ghana. On this paper the sum is completely different, and I produce the invoice as evidence. Seeing an opportunity slip by, the man in beige now tries to be stubborn. I am now in full steam and ask him to check the load instead. Upon his instruction a few bales loaded are released and the weight is being taken. By multiplying the number of packages he derives at the figure on my invoice. This solves the puzzle and he grins. We know the icebreaker worked. We have all settled into the straw- hut and two official in a hammock are explaining the procedures. They warn about the 'brigade', the customs flying squad. They will seize all goods that are not declared proper. All is done to intimidate us. Find ways to extract more money. Once the final calculation comes out we are to pay in the region of 3000 US Dollars. Still high though much less than the previous figure. To be continued. |