26 August 2026

Togo - Beware of Bartering in Togolese Waters

We would like to draw our member's and assureds' attention to a rise in alleged smuggling cases in Togo where vessels exchanging goods with local fishermen may well be interpreted as a serious Customs infringement with severe consequences.

The local correspondents, Budd Group, have highlighted that undeclared transfers or bartering with local fishermen in Togolese waters can result in substantial Customs fines. In recent cases the fines ranged from €120,000 to €400,000, with vessels detained and crew members involved imprisoned for between 3 months and 3 years.

Under the Togolese Customs Code no goods or materials may be discharged or transferred without prior written authorization from Customs. Any unauthorized physical exchange - including sludge barrels, bottled water, scrap metal, old ropes, or small fuel quantities in exchange for seafood, cigarettes, or SIM cards - is legally categorised as undeclared import/smuggling. Fines are calculated not only on the goods exchanged, but also on the financial value of the transport involved, based on the full market value of the vessel. Demands for fines for modern commercial ships scale up into tens or hundreds of millions of Euros.

 

Budd Group report a recent case where an ocean-going vessel at Lomé anchorage transferred 35 cans of fuel residue (approximately 875 litres) to a local pirogue in exchange for fish, cigarettes and SIM cards. This was classed as a customs offence with the following consequences: 

  • Criminal Sanctions -  1- 3 years imprisonment of the crew members involved; and

  • Financial Penalties - The total calculated penalty exceeded 84.6 Billion XOF (approx. €129 Million/USD 140M+), calculated as quadruple the combined value of the fuel, Customs duties, and the estimated market value of the vessel itself.

The fishermen involved were subject to similar sanctions but on a scale commensurate with the value of their vessel.

 

Recommendations

In order to avoid Customs infringements, fines and delays, Members and Assureds are strongly advised to make sure the Master and crew are fully aware of this issue before calling at ports in Togo, and to ensure that they do not engage in any form of item exchange with local craft at anchorage.

The correspondent also recommends keeping all unauthorised local craft away from the vessel. In case of any unauthorised approaches, to log, photograph and report the craft to harbour authorities and local agents immediately.

If approached by Togolese Customs or presented with a Procès-Verbal (PV), contact the Club and the local correspondent for assistance before signing any official documentation.

 

Further information is available in the below links: