Today, dozens of Libyan-registered cars are crossing Ras Ajdir. They are men who travel alone and refuse to make any statement to reporters. They are smugglers who cross the border in cars with dual fuel tank. A few kilometers in the desert, they stop and meet with their counterparts. Suck a rubber gas tank and fill several cans hidden while the police turn a blind eye.
So make a living on either side of the border between Libya and Tunisia. "There is a point on the beach where it is very easy to cross on foot when the tide is low. Libyans and Tunisians exploit to smuggle goods. The police said that while they are not drugs and alcohol can do whatever they want.
Above all, bring cigarettes and mobile phones. Everything you see sold in these positions has been smuggled from Libya, "said an official of an international organization. The real business of this border is the smuggling of gasoline. Over the road positions drums can be arranged in perfect order.
The gas cans are green and red Libya, Algeria. "The Libyan fuel quality is very good, better than the Algerian," finds a young man buying a job. "Gasoline is very expensive in Tunisia, comparable to European prices," said a taxi driver Ben Gerdano. The liter is 1.5 dinars, but if bought on the black market, you only have to pay 0.8.
One euro is 1.95 dinars. But that was before the war in Libya. In recent days the flow of Libyans who bring contraband gasoline had been interrupted by the difficulty of crossing the border. They raced tens of thousands of people and it was impossible for a vehicle crossing the border. Consequently, the price has risen.
"Today is a bad day for refueling. The liter is 1.3 dinars", the instrument driver. Although Libya is heading towards a civil war and the border has suffered a wave of refugees, which remains the same at this point is the border trade between both sides. Although the flow is lower than usual, it appears that Ben Gardane economy (the last village before reaching the border with Libya) is based on the products that cross the boundary line towards Tunisia: carpets, cigarettes.
.. The currency exchange positions are multiplied along the main street and even on the road that connects with Ras Ajdir, 33 kilometers. It only takes a blue bench and a thatched roof to keep out the relentless desert sun and in the middle of nowhere the money flows. The wave of refugees from Libya to the Tunisian border trade has been reactivated in the area.
Established camps along the border of Ras Ajdir have also become a makeshift flea market where they sell cigarettes and mobile phones. In parallel with humanitarian aid, small posts were distributed everywhere, newly invented cardboard boxes. Young Tunisians from the basic selling soap and deodorant to the most sophisticated accessories like memory cards.
A mobile phone may be around 100 dinars (50 euros). A pack of Marlboro costs three Gardane Ben dinars (the last town before crossing Tunisia to Libya). But in Ras Ajdir refugees have to pay five. Unless you can make do with the local brand, the Ashford, which cost 2.5 dinars. The money changers walk around with wads of dinars ready to change the currency in Libya.
"Sarraf Sarraf! [Change, change!]," Announced the search for customers. Many refugees arrive with just enough money or in most cases without it. But those who have been hiding some Libyan dinars or dollars of thefts of Libyan soldiers are quick to change some tickets. Volunteers clad in red windbreakers Tunisiana, the mobile phone company participating in the Trabelsi (in-law of deposed President Ben Ali) - addressed to refugees to offer free calls to their families.
And the 'boy scout' Tunisians, with their blue shirts and red and white scarves around his neck, hand out free water and snacks. The solidarity of the Tunisian people knows no bounds. But locals have a sense of well-developed commercial and business there is always the border. In addition to refugees, the opportunists have found a new vein: journalists.
Each car that is parked at the border has to pay 10 dinars a day (around five euros). Taxi drivers and thrive, multiplying their careers, and Ben Gardane pensions are in high season. Two weeks ago, a shared room without bath or heating cost 45 dinars. Now the price is 60 dinars (30 euros).
Son 10 euros less than the cost of a luxury hotel with full board at the Yerba tourist. 
So make a living on either side of the border between Libya and Tunisia. "There is a point on the beach where it is very easy to cross on foot when the tide is low. Libyans and Tunisians exploit to smuggle goods. The police said that while they are not drugs and alcohol can do whatever they want.
Above all, bring cigarettes and mobile phones. Everything you see sold in these positions has been smuggled from Libya, "said an official of an international organization. The real business of this border is the smuggling of gasoline. Over the road positions drums can be arranged in perfect order.
The gas cans are green and red Libya, Algeria. "The Libyan fuel quality is very good, better than the Algerian," finds a young man buying a job. "Gasoline is very expensive in Tunisia, comparable to European prices," said a taxi driver Ben Gerdano. The liter is 1.5 dinars, but if bought on the black market, you only have to pay 0.8.
One euro is 1.95 dinars. But that was before the war in Libya. In recent days the flow of Libyans who bring contraband gasoline had been interrupted by the difficulty of crossing the border. They raced tens of thousands of people and it was impossible for a vehicle crossing the border. Consequently, the price has risen.
"Today is a bad day for refueling. The liter is 1.3 dinars", the instrument driver. Although Libya is heading towards a civil war and the border has suffered a wave of refugees, which remains the same at this point is the border trade between both sides. Although the flow is lower than usual, it appears that Ben Gardane economy (the last village before reaching the border with Libya) is based on the products that cross the boundary line towards Tunisia: carpets, cigarettes.
.. The currency exchange positions are multiplied along the main street and even on the road that connects with Ras Ajdir, 33 kilometers. It only takes a blue bench and a thatched roof to keep out the relentless desert sun and in the middle of nowhere the money flows. The wave of refugees from Libya to the Tunisian border trade has been reactivated in the area.
Established camps along the border of Ras Ajdir have also become a makeshift flea market where they sell cigarettes and mobile phones. In parallel with humanitarian aid, small posts were distributed everywhere, newly invented cardboard boxes. Young Tunisians from the basic selling soap and deodorant to the most sophisticated accessories like memory cards.
A mobile phone may be around 100 dinars (50 euros). A pack of Marlboro costs three Gardane Ben dinars (the last town before crossing Tunisia to Libya). But in Ras Ajdir refugees have to pay five. Unless you can make do with the local brand, the Ashford, which cost 2.5 dinars. The money changers walk around with wads of dinars ready to change the currency in Libya.
"Sarraf Sarraf! [Change, change!]," Announced the search for customers. Many refugees arrive with just enough money or in most cases without it. But those who have been hiding some Libyan dinars or dollars of thefts of Libyan soldiers are quick to change some tickets. Volunteers clad in red windbreakers Tunisiana, the mobile phone company participating in the Trabelsi (in-law of deposed President Ben Ali) - addressed to refugees to offer free calls to their families.
And the 'boy scout' Tunisians, with their blue shirts and red and white scarves around his neck, hand out free water and snacks. The solidarity of the Tunisian people knows no bounds. But locals have a sense of well-developed commercial and business there is always the border. In addition to refugees, the opportunists have found a new vein: journalists.
Each car that is parked at the border has to pay 10 dinars a day (around five euros). Taxi drivers and thrive, multiplying their careers, and Ben Gardane pensions are in high season. Two weeks ago, a shared room without bath or heating cost 45 dinars. Now the price is 60 dinars (30 euros).
Son 10 euros less than the cost of a luxury hotel with full board at the Yerba tourist.
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