Madagascar lychee trade mired in corruption - report

Campaign group Transparency International has raised the alarm over the lychee trade in Madagascar, writing to authorities in France and the Indian Ocean island requesting "investigations into possible criminal actions by companies and individuals involved in the Malagasy lychee trade".

The global anti-corruption body alleges graft and fraud by French companies and citizens, and Malagasy organisations that export to the EU.

"Transparency International conducted research into this opaque trade and found evidence of numerous potential infractions, including foreign bribery, unlawful agreements, tax fraud, laundering and concealment of such offences," a statement said.

The group warns that the actions of some firms are impairing the growth of the lychee industry in Madagascar, which is a "key source of income" for the country.

"Most profits of the lucrative lychee trade between Madagascar and the EU are concentrated in the hands of a few powerful and politically-connected individuals – at the expense of tens of thousands of small-scale lychee producers and collectors who do not get their fair share," said Ketakandriana Rafitoson, executive director of Transparency International Madagascar.

The BBC has contacted the Madagascar government for comment but has not had a response.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

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