A documentary investigation reveals the vast network of oil smugglers operating in Nigeria and Benin. The smugglers, who are often armed and aggressive, steal crude oil from refineries and pipelines, refine it in secret facilities, and transport it across the border to be sold on the black market. The Nigerian army has attempted to crack down on the smuggling, but the smugglers have adapted, using bribery and intimidation to evade capture.
The investigation highlights the devastating impact of the smuggling on local communities, who are forced to abandon traditional livelihoods such as fishing and farming due to pollution. The smugglers' activities have also led to a significant loss of revenue for the governments of Nigeria and Benin.
The documentary follows one smuggler, Belma, who has built a large barge to transport oil, and another, Antoine, who risks his life daily to deliver fuel to the black market. The investigation also reveals the complicity of corrupt officials and the involvement of big oil companies in the smuggling operations.
The film concludes by highlighting the ecological disaster caused by the crude oil smuggling, which is likely to continue for many years to come.
1. In Benin, motorcycles are used to transport anything, including fuel.
2. For a few euros, motorcycles can withstand up to 700 liters of gasoline.
3. Accidents often occur, resulting in gasoline spills and fires.
4. Reckless bikers in Benin carry contraband gasoline sold in makeshift gas stations.
5. There are thousands of makeshift gas stations in Benin.
6. The price of gasoline at these stations defies competition with official stations.
7. The Benin government loses 20 million euros due to this trade.
8. The government closes its eyes to this trade as it provides a living for a quarter of the population.
9. The trade is impossible to eliminate, as too many people would become unemployed.
10. Neighboring Nigeria is one of the biggest oil producers in the world.
11. Thousands of liters of gasoline are stolen from refineries in Nigeria and smuggled into Benin daily.
12. The stolen gasoline is of excellent quality and attracts big oil companies and gangs of thieves.
13. Thieves loot oil pipelines in Nigeria at night.
14. They hide their illegal refineries in the mangroves to escape the police.
15. The Nigerian army has tried to put an end to the trafficking but is having difficulty due to the large number of smugglers.
16. The mangrove is a large and inhospitable area, making it difficult for soldiers to pursue smugglers.
17. Crude oil is stolen from big oil companies and refined using a traditional method.
18. The refineries are guarded by well-paid men who earn €15 per hour.
19. The average salary in Nigeria is €5 per hour.
20. The smugglers pay bribes to soldiers to avoid being arrested.
21. The pipeline that supplies the nearby refinery passes through a man's land, and he secretly hijacks part of the crude.
22. He resells the crude to smugglers in the area.
23. The land belongs to the man, so the pipeline that passes over it also belongs to him.
24. The diversion is done by fixing a pipe on a bypass.
25. The smugglers fill their boats to the brim with oil, using former fishing boats for transport.
26. It takes them less than ten minutes to fill at least 5000 liters.
27. The boat is a real floating bomb.
28. The smugglers' leader sells more and more gasoline and needs large quantities of crude.
29. He had a huge barge built to transport the oil.
30. The barge contains approximately 100,000 liters of oil.
31. The barge is very heavy and needs three days to tow it to its camp.
32. The current puts the barge to the test, and smoking is not allowed due to the risk of explosion.
33. Every month, smuggling refineries take the equivalent of four tank trucks.
34. The gasoline is transported to Cotonou in Benin.
35. The gasoline will travel over 600 kilometers to reach the border.
36. Traffickers have set up a clandestine port in a no man's land between Nigeria and Benin.
37. The business is well-organized, with a manager for arrivals and problems with authorities.
38. He receives a commission on each drum landed, and part of the money is used to buy the silence of customs officers.
39. At least the equivalent of 1000 tank trucks of gasoline enters Benin daily.
40. The activity along the border never stops.
41. Antwan works for a trafficker and collects gas cans daily.
42. He uses a small motorbike to transport the cans, making two trips due to the weight.
43. He has to suck the air out of the cans to prevent them from exploding.
44. He can load fourteen jerrycans, or 700 liters of fuel, on his motorbike.
45. He takes small dirt roads to avoid customs officers.
46. He earns €5 a day, which is nothing compared to the risks he takes.
47. A dozen motorcyclists die in fires on these roads every year.
48. The system has been polluting and destroying the Niger Delta for 50 years.
49. The big oil companies are responsible for the ecological disaster caused by the crude.
50. The disaster is likely to continue for many years to come.