No Result
View All Result
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
23 °c
Tripoli
24 ° Sat
24 ° Sun
  • Advertising
  • Contact
LibyaHerald
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
LibyaHerald
No Result
View All Result
Home Libya

Zuwara feels the effect of petrol smuggling

bySami Zaptia
February 14, 2018
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
Zuwara feels the effect of petrol smuggling

Dilapidated old cars are used as petrol tanks to smuggle fuel across the border (Photo: Jamie Prentis / Libya Herald)

By Jamie Prentis.

The Libyan-Tunisian border crossing has seen frequent tensions since the Arab Spring Revolutions (Photo: Houda Mzioudet / Libya Herald).
Smuggling of fuel across the Libyan-Tunisian border is rife and in full view of officials on both sides (Photo: Archives by Houda Mzioudet / Libya Herald).

Zuwara, 13 February 2018:

Rampant fuel trafficking across the Libyan-Tunisian frontier continues unabated amid a dearth of petrol supplies in the western city of Zuwara.

Only nine out of 40 petrol stations in the municipality are functioning, though they often go days at a time without being replenished. Even when they are stocked up, supplies quickly evaporate as long lines of cars build up hoping to strike lucky.

At the Ras Jedir border, in one hour alone over a hundred beaten up Tunisian vans crossed into Libya to buy cheap petrol. Some did not even have engines and were towed by the car in front, but it didn’t matter so long as they could fill up with fuel. All of this happened under the eyes of officials on either side.

RELATED POSTS

Maghreb Banking Forum‎, Tunis, 4 to 5 May – strengthening economic integration in the Maghreb

Libya and Italy discuss establishment of the Libyan Italian Vocational Training Centre in Zuwara

One Tunisian, who gave his profession as an “international businessmen dealing with trade across the border,” said petrol dealers sold tanker-loads of fuel that came from the refinery in Zawia. He also claimed the few petrol stations open in Zuwara and neighbouring areas were complicit.

“It costs between one to two Libyan Dinars a litre (half to one Tunisian Dinar). In Tunisia they then sell a litre at 1.20 Tunisian Dinars in Ben Guerdane,” he said.  The official Tunisian price is hovering at around 1.80 Tunisian Dinars a litre at the moment.

Lining the streets of the scruffy Tunisian border town of Ben Guerdane were 70-80 stalls selling containers of the smuggled petrol. Despite some operating within view of the National Guard, locals said security dared not intervene over fears that riots could take place – a common occurrence in the lawless, Wild-West-like town.

In Ben Guerdane’s market, a chaotic, dusty strip of road provides a place for carpets, washing machines and, of course, petrol to be sold. Yet on the outskirts high walled, security camera-equipped mansions loom with their sprawling gardens. “These are the people profiting from smuggling,” one local said.

Smuggling fuel is illegal and Zuwara’s municipality security chief Colonel Aymed Absa said his team had worked hard to clamp down on the trade.

The issue lies in a legal loophole. Absa’s team regularly announce the seizure of containers with fuel intended to be trafficked. However, smugglers fit two extra-large tanks capable of taking between 400 and 1,000 litres in their car. When officials check the vehicles, on the surface nothing is amiss.

Tunisian authorities have sought to crackdown on the smuggling of goods in the past, leading to closures at the border, but petrol is still getting through.

Custom officials seemed more concerned that large amounts of dollars or bottles of whiskey could be brought in.

It appears those driving these cars loaded with fuel were not the biggest beneficiaries of the trade. Most appeared relatively poor.

A resident of Zuwara said that for those not involved in smuggling, petrol cost around 0.15 Libyan Dinars a litre. “When there is petrol, we always take as much as we can. Even if some people don’t have an empty tank, they know they can potentially sell it to smugglers for a profit,” she said.

“It’s a difficult balancing act. Do you risk running out of fuel because it always runs out, or make a little bit of money knowing the bank wont have any cash either,” she added.

Tags: border crossingfeaturedfuel petrol smugglingRas EjderTunisZuwara

Related Posts

ACA reveals 94,000 cases of state sector salary duplication in 2015
Libya

Three Fisheries officials temporarily suspend from work by Administrative Control Authority suspected of corruption

July 15, 2025
ACA reveals 94,000 cases of state sector salary duplication in 2015
Libya

ACA saves LD 409 million on school textbook printing, suspends Tripoli Education Ministry’s Textbook Warehouse Manager

July 15, 2025
Attorney General orders arrests at Jumhouria bank branch for embezzlement
Libya

Attorney General provides update on investigation of incidents resulting from Tripoli 2025 armed clashes and demonstrations

July 11, 2025
GNU to take oath at Benghazi HoR session and budget to be approved at Tripoli session: GNU
Libya

Aldabaiba seeking long term partnership not interim solutions on combatting irregular migration

July 10, 2025
Acting Interior Minister Trabelsi taking steps to counter forged ID numbers and passports
Libya

There are 4 million irregular migrants in Libya: Interior Minister Trabelsi

July 10, 2025
GNU to take oath at Benghazi HoR session and budget to be approved at Tripoli session: GNU
Libya

Aldabaiba: Militias have become criminal gangs and a state within the state

July 9, 2025
Next Post

Mitiga airport reopens after gunfire causes short closure

Supreme Court rules that its not within jurisdiction of Beida court to rule on constitutional affairs – clears way for HoR to legislate for a referendum

Supreme Court rules that its not within jurisdiction of Beida court to rule on constitutional affairs – clears way for HoR to legislate for a referendum

ADVERTISEMENT

Top Stories

  • Libya Development and Reconstruction Fund signs contract with Turkey’s Ankamenia for maintenance of Benghazi University’s medical colleges

    Libya Development and Reconstruction Fund signs contract with Turkey’s Ankamenia for maintenance of Benghazi University’s medical colleges

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • China to resume implementation of its stalled railways projects in Libya

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Libyan olive oils win gold at Anatolian, Berlin and Japan 2025 international olive oil competitions

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • There are 4 million irregular migrants in Libya: Interior Minister Trabelsi

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • BP to reopen office in Libya, Shell discusses prospects for cooperation in oil field development‎

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
ADVERTISEMENT
LibyaHerald

The Libya Herald first appeared on 17 February 2012 – the first anniversary of the Libyan Revolution. Since then, it has become a favourite go-to source on news about Libya, for many in Libya and around the world, regularly attracting millions of hits.

Recent News

Three Fisheries officials temporarily suspend from work by Administrative Control Authority suspected of corruption

UK Minister visits Tripoli – agreement signed to improve quality of English teaching at Libyan educational establishments

Sitemap

  • Why subscribe?
  • Terms & Conditions
  • FAQs
  • Copyright & Intellectual Property Rights
  • Subscribe now

Newsletters

    Be the first to know latest important news & events directly to your inbox.

    Sending ...

    By signing up, I agree to our TOS and Privacy Policy.

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password? Sign Up

    Create New Account!

    Fill the forms below to register

    *By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
    All fields are required. Log In

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In
    No Result
    View All Result
    • Login
    • Sign Up
    • Libya
    • Business
    • Advertising
    • About us
    • BusinessEye Magazine
    • Letters
    • Features
    • Why subscribe?
    • FAQs
    • Contact

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.