Title: Togo’s Crackdown on Maritime Smuggling: Million-Euro Fines and Prison Time for Vessels and Crews

Overview of Togo’s Maritime Smuggling Clampdown

In recent times, Togo’s capital city, Lome, has seen a severe crackdown on maritime smuggling, resulting in substantial fines for foreign vessels and their crews. This clampdown stems from exchanges of minimal-value items between ships and local fishermen or residents [1] .

Infractions and Consequences

The reported incidents involved trading of insignificant items, like sludge, bottles of water, or discarded scrap metals, for seafood or SIM cards [1] . Immediately following these transactions, the vessels were detained, and smuggling allegations levied against them, resulting in fines totaling €60 million to €130 million [1] .

Fines Calculation

These fines were calculated using the value of the exchanged items and an estimated worth of all involved vessels, coupled with a customs duty of roughly 28-49% [1] on both the vessel values and the items exchanged.

Delay in Customs Authorities Engagement

Local correspondent, Budd Group, reported that Togolese customs authorities have been reluctant to discuss the fines until a formal fine demand document is signed, leading to significant delays for affected vessels [1] .

Resources and Recommendations

For comprehensive information on these customs fines, please refer to the circular issued by Budd Group, which can be accessed here. Also, articles from the Togolese Customs Code in French can be found here.

Maritime Industries’ Advice

Maritime industries and their stakeholders are strongly advised to educate their crews about this issue before calling at ports in Togo, specifically in Lome, to prevent any potential involvement in illicit exchanges and subsequent fines and delays.