In niger in 1992 (sorry a bit old) when travelling along the southern main highway it is customary to be asked to (present) ones papers at various road blocks outside of small towns. This "police" or locals extract small amount ranging from $3-$5 per vehicle. CFA 500. The irony is that the country had a 5% literacy rate, thus the chances of the papers being "read" was low. Fortunately bank notes are easy for everyone to read.

The driver is held up at the roadside blockade, usually no more than a lean to shed with a piece of string across the road. the police office comes out to "inspect" the documents for the vehicle and driver. The driver puts paper bank notes equivelant to CFA 500 into the folded documents. The officer visits the shed to inspect the documents. Upon returning from the shed, the money is gone and the vehicle is waved on. A classic case of petty corruption hindering the speed and progress of a country. This is done at almost every village and is seen as a rightful privilige for a woefully under trained and under-paid police force. The more valuable the percieved cargo the more extracted bribe. This takes place every 10-20 miles along the main road in Niger.

Usually large well marked NGO vehicles pass with out paying the bribe as they are assumed to be connected to power and thus immune from bribery extraction.