Ivory Coast is seeing an increase in cocoa smuggling with neighbouring countries. In the last quarter of 2024, an estimated 50,000 to 75,000 tonnes were allegedly, illegally sent to Guinea and Liberia. Our Observer went to film smugglers in Sipilou, on Ivory Coast’s western border, in the middle of the night.
How can the increase in cocoa smuggling be explained? In Ivory Coast, the price of cocoa is set by the government. The idea is to protect the country’s producers from fluctuating world prices. Currently, the official price is 1,800 francs a kilo (2.74 euros). But when global prices are high, like now, smugglers can step in to take advantage of the price difference between Ivory Coast and its neighbours, where cocoa can sell for as much as 5,000 francs a kilo (7.62 euros).
Cocoa smuggling in Côte d’Ivoire has seen a significant rise in recent years, driven by escalating global cocoa prices and disparities in local farmgate prices. Between October and December 2024 alone, approximately 50,000 metric tons of cocoa, valued at around $573 million, were allegedly illegally transported to neighboring Guinea. ​
In October 2024, Ivorian authorities intercepted 33 trucks carrying about 1,100 tons of cocoa beans intended for smuggling into Guinea. Additionally, in February 2025, customs officials seized approximately 2,000 metric tons of cocoa beans at the port of Abidjan, falsely declared to evade taxes. ​
The surge in smuggling is largely attributed to the substantial increase in global cocoa prices, which reached a record $12,931 per metric ton in December 2024. This price hike incentivized smugglers to exploit the higher prices offered across borders. In response, the Ivorian government has implemented measures such as confiscating proceeds from smuggling, revoking passports, and suspending driving licenses to deter illegal activities. ​
Despite these efforts, the persistence of smuggling poses significant challenges to Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa industry, affecting production forecasts and contributing to the volatility of global cocoa prices.
