I was struck the first time I went through the airport in Manila that I had to pay a fee in cash before proceeding through security, I’d receive a paper receipt, and then hand that receipt a person in the booth immediately past the one where I’d paid it.
While it was an imperfect system, officials had created a system meant to allow them to verify that a receipt tracked each payment, and to track how much had been paid. It was a system built to limit corruption by the individuals collecting the cash (although did little to limit corruption by those higher up).
There are a couple of truisms when engaging in questionable conduct,
- Don’t put details of your conduct in writing. There’s always a paper trail, and it’ll look bad at your trial.
- Don’t use euphemisms for criminal conduct, because you’ll look obviously guilty when asked to read those allowed at your trial.
That’s true all over the world, it seems, and not just for those worrying about U.S. courts and subpeonas. The Economist rounds up how bribes are solicited in Africa – worth knowing for any tourist who will visit there. 25% of Africans “who used public services or interacted with police” report having paid a bribe in the prior year.
“Give me something,” demands a woman X-raying bags at Enugu airport in Nigeria, conceding impressively little to anti-graft efforts. Others make small concessions to subtlety. “Can you help me?” asks an immigration officer in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
…Some officials, for example, like to keep citizens well abreast of their food and drink preferences. “I really want to drink a Nescafe,” declares an airport security guard six times as he frisks your correspondent in Burkina Faso. In Uganda traffic police find ways to mention their favourite soda. In South Africa such requests are so common that bribes for driving offences are known as “cold drink money”.
…In Kenya police sometimes ask for chai ya wazee (“tea for the elders”). In Nigeria police officers might suggest that they are simply trying to do their job by saying they need fuel for their patrol vehicle. All still expect cash.
There are numerous anti-corruption efforts the world over, with varying degrees of genuineness. Corruption is certainly bad for institutions which support economic growth, even as it can grease the wheels that makes economic deals possible. Often anti-corruption efforts are used as a tool for the regime in power to go after their predecessors (just as it will be used to go after them by a future regime). This always works when everyone is corrupt!
I’ve always advised travelers that as Americans we can’t bribe government officials. And I’ve always advised business travelers that they certainly can’t submit bribes as part of their expense reimbursements. However I’ve long encouraged having some cash in various places on their person, and hoped that their employer might offer a pay structure that bonuses creative problem solving. And of course it can help to have local services on hand to deal with immigration and other formalities.
The Economist suggests “feign[ing] ignorance” and taking requests for tea or soft drinks literally, offering to return with one. It’s easier to extort a local than someone who might make noise with higher-ups through a local embassy.
(HT: Money Stuff)
The investment bank i worked for in the 90’s for sure had a reimbursement system in place for bribes, not sure up to what level though. I remember because it was part of my training when I got sent to a country where we weren’t allowed to expense them!
I once transited through Nigeria (with Lufthansa and South African Airways) and every official I encountered wanted a “gift”. The immigration person asked if I brought him a “gift”. The airport escort I was assigned sat me in a room and asked if I had any “gifts”. I kept repeating I never brings gifts when I travel and the best gift one can give is time.
25% of Africans “who used public services or interacted with police” report having paid a bribe in the prior year. I guess the other 75% just didn’t report it?
It’s sad but understandable given how desperate many of these people are. Somebody with the means to go there looks like a bag of money passing through, and if your family is on the edge who wouldn’t want to dip into that if they could? And there can also be cultural aspects where this is just expected. My sister ran into a “request” in Nairobi’s best hospital, where after taking a fall our mother had gotten excellent round the clock care. It cost $30 to spring her for the ride to the airport. On the other hand, mom later said that her three day private stay was less than the cost of the ambulance ride from JFK to the Manhattan hospital, so it’s not exactly like such payouts are a major expense compared to what we spend.
I paid a $50 bribe to a policeman at JNB when driving out of the airport. I was naive. A local later told me $10 would have sufficed.
What you are describing aren’t really bribes, but grease payments. The former are a bad thing, the latter is even recognized by the government as sometimes inevitable.
And, yes, it exists in the US, also–do X if you want your development project approved. Any sort of permitting where the officials can simply say no is subject to this to varying degrees.
I knew a French tourist who was told in Benin (West Africa) they needed an injection. A drawer was opened where there was a dirty syringe. The tourist refused to get the injection saying that they would rather be deported by France. Another tourist then said that some money would help. After payment, the drawer was closed and the passenger allowed to pass.
I feel unloved. Never been asked for a bribe when flying or transiting around Africa…except for the toilet attendants. They could make the mafia weep in shame..
SA government is trying to get a bribe out of Elon Musk. https://driveteslacanada.ca/news/spacex-must-give-up-30-equity-stake-in-starlink-to-operate-in-south-africa-says-government/
Unfortunately grease money is just a normal part of every day life in poor countries. While I don’t like it, I think that the vast majority of the people doing it are not nasty criminals trying to extort people out of their hard earned money but low income people trying to get enough money to pay their bills because their wages are so low. When I travel to these places I see it like giving a tip for service. I tip taxi drivers, house cleaners, waiters, bell hops, concierge, bathroom attendants etc, all without them asking for it. So I don’t see why it is not OK to tip other service providers in poor third world countries. As long as the grease money is not too high, usually it is only a few dollars that I can afford and I don’t mind paying it to get a smoother experience.
When I go to a country where this is a common practice I am ready to tip people left and right, they appreciate it, I and get a better experience from them. At one hotel I tipped the security guard at the front of the building when I arrived. He was neither asking for it or expecting it but it made him very happy and every time I came back to the hotel he greeted me very warmly and always rushed to open the taxi door for me. Most things are so cheap in these poor countries that it is not a big expense to be generous with the local service providers, whether they work for a private company or are a government employee. I do not condone or approve of extortion in any form, but I am OK with tipping people anywhere from $1-$5.
While I like to tip people in poor countries, in the US I personally don’t like to pay the appalling 15-18% tips at restaurants. I think it is a soft form of extortion when they expect a patron to pay so much. It’s amazing how people complain about grease money overseas but don’t have a problem with the exorbitant tips required at US restaurants. Americans shouldn’t complain about grease money overseas when they have to pay excessive grease money (in the guise of tips) to the staff when eating at a restaurant. Thankfully it is a shameful practice that you don’t encounter in most developed countries.
When conducting compliance training we often suggest the best response is: “I wish I could help you, but I would get fired if I give you any cash because it’s against company policy. And you don’t want me to lose my job”
Nigeria – I’ve flown into Lagos (LOS) a dozen times and NIS has never requested a bribe. However the ladies with the red cross armbands who check your yellow fever vax card will inevitably ask for $10 (I always decline). Nigerian TSA usually ask if I have something for them. The best answer is always “only God’s grace”
Congo- The airport at PNR was like a gauntlet, we were solicited at every checkpoint. Fortunately there was a Chinese businessman behind us who whipped out his wallet, so they let us pass without incident.
Ethiopia- When we attempted to exit ADD we were told that we needed to pay a $100 cash fee for a visa. We politely declined, and were not allowed to clear immigration.
Angola- You may be randomly selected to enter a windowless room where a uniformed officer asks you how much money you have. When I told him I had $400 USD he let me go without any demands. There are airport signs everywhere that indicate you may exit with up to $10k USD. Practice tip: Bring mosquito repellant and apply generously.
In the United States it is called “tipping “ and get far worse than any African country. They have much to learn from from Americans
Happens in Morocco too, but then it tends to be aimed more at Moroccans than visiting Americans.
Manila airport stopped collecting cash airport fees at departures back around 2015. They now include that fee in the airfare. I’m guessing other airports did something similar back in the 70s/80s.
@Patti, me too. I’ve visited some 25 African countries, almost always independently, and cannot recall being asked for a bribe. I wonder if it is certain places in particular (I haven’t been to Nigeria) or a certain look, or just luck. Anyway, I hope people don’t read pieces like this and write off Africa. It’s an incredible continent with so much to offer.
Just booking my hotels for my next RTW trip which includes the USA – the American properties all they all want their “gift” aka resort fees. WTF. Oh yeah – remember to tip as well…..
@platy – and Australian properties want to charge an extra fee to pay the bill (credit card surcharge). Sigh.
@Gary Leff
Get used to it. A number of places and service companies have started adding a “service charge” for using a CC in the US.
Just discovered my dentist even charges one.
“The tourist refused to get the injection…”
Over the past three years, we had people accepting one for baseball tickets, a hamburger and fries, small amounts of cash, and any number of other incentives. They would have been much better off if they simply refused.
One early morning, on my way from Metrocentro in Managua to the airport, I was pulled over by a police officer who claimed that I was speeding (not really). Well, he was super friendly and chatty and basically made it be known that we should have breakfast, or at least I could buy it for him. A nice one. So, knowing the going rate, I offered up $10 to my new “friend”. And, my friend then announced that there were other colleagues of his waiting up by to rotonda (near the airport). He would call them, let them know that we were amigos and they would not disturb me. Well, we parted company and, sure enough, there were several cops at said rotonda. And, sure enough, they did not bother with me at all.
So, my new friend there was right – and I considered it $10 very well spent. Hope he enjoyed his breakfast. 🙂
You never know what to expect. In Jordan I was driving a rental car, and admittedly was driving faster than the posted speed limit. So the guy waves at me to pull over at the side of the road. I’m wondering how much this is going to cost me by the time it’s over. He walks up to the car and says, “I am Jordan policeman.” I had already figured that out based on the markings on his car and uniform and the radar gun he was carrying. I hand over my U.S. driver’s license expecting the worst. He looks at it and says, “I like America. Welcome to Jordan,” and motions me to be on my way.
The similitude of the 3rd world is amazingly funny.. the most basic (at the inoffensive level, because of course it can escalate to very dangerous) corruption with law enforcement in Venezuela is the famous ‘dame pa’ los frescos’ (gimme for the cold drinks).
@Sean M. LOL! that’s the harsh true, numbers will be about the same in Venezuela.