Forced to pay a fee

Extorting money from people in transit is a widespread practice in various border regions. People on the move are often forced to pay fees, bribes, or fines under threat of violence, further detention, or denial of passage. These “fees” are rarely official and are instead forms of corruption carried out by law enforcement, border guards, or police.

The sums demanded can be substantial. This practice violates the right to protection from extortion and arbitrary demands, as well as basic economic rights as outlined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). The coercive extraction of money reflects a predatory environment where state actors and their proxies see border crossings as opportunities for financial gain at the expense of those on the move.