Billions hidden behind airline ticket sales: these travel agencies risk big

Five Ivorian travel agencies (Waheguru Travels, Anil Travel tour Satiguru services SARL, Metroways voyages et tourisme, OMED Travels tour, and Blueberry Travel) are accused of hiding more than 21 billion FCFA in profits and transferring funds abroad without authorization. The financial prosecutor has demanded 65 billion FCFA in fines and five years in prison for their executives. The fraud involved double bookkeeping, with companies only reporting sales commissions to tax authorities. The case is part of Côte d'Ivoire's intensified fight against money laundering, as the country is on the FATF grey list.