In reference to how uranium is typically exported from Niger to France:
The raw uranium is exported to France for processing via Cotonou, Benin's capital. -- "Niger upset by uranium slur," BBC, Mon July 14, 2003
From an earlier post by a freeper:
The panel found that the CIA has not fully investigated possible efforts by Iraq to buy uranium in Niger to this day, citing reports from a foreign service and the U.S. Navy about uranium from Niger destined for Iraq and stored in a warehouse in Benin.
And, from another source :
The CIA also made only ''halfhearted'' attempts to investigate a West African businessman's claim that Nigerien uranium bound for Iraq was being stored in a warehouse in the nearby African nation of Benin, the report said. The CIA never contacted the businessman, even though the U.S. Navy gave the CIA his phone number, the report said. -- "Senate report offers backing for claim Iraq sought uranium in Africa ," By Matt Kelley, Associated Press, 7/9/2004 17:05 via http://www.boston.com/dailynews/191/wash/Senate_report_offers_backing_f:.shtml
Also, see this previously mentioned link with info on Benin, Niger, France & uranium exporting: Niger's low security for uranium, radioactive materials under scrutiny AP via The Canadian Press, Canada.com ^ | Friday, September 19, 2003 | BRUCE STANLEY
And now for further very interesting things concerning smuggling and the African country of Benin seeing as how we heard news elsewhere on FR about Venezuela's Chavez has been aiding middle eastern terrorists as well as being tight with some of the nations that are giving the world so much trouble over there :
-- "$50m cocaine haul on Togo tugboat," by Rory Carroll, The Guardian [UK], Saturday July 10, 2004
A French warship has intercepted a tugboat off the coast of Ghana which was allegedly bound for Europe with more than two tonnes of cocaine worth $50m (£26m). Officials boarded the Togolese vessel, the Pitea, earlier this week.
They arrested eight people in the latest sign that South American drug smugglers are using west Africa as a transit point.
The joint French-Togolese operation was based on Spanish intelligence, according to BBC reports, and followed the seizure in January of $140m of cocaine in Ghana.
The Pitea was allegedly carrying a consignment which originated in Venezuela.
A crackdown in the US is thought to have redirected some cocaine traffic away from North America and across the Atlantic to Africa and then north to Europe.
The Pitea was towed to Lome, Togo's capital, where the eight suspects were expected to be charged. Togolese officials said six were from Venezuela, one from North America and another from Ukraine.... (excerpted)
More benin trivia:
There was also this plane crash which killed some bangladeshi peacekeepers, a large number of Lebanese, some Americans, people from other parts of Africa, etc :
--Excerpted from "Uneven load doomed plane in Benin crash By Daily Star Staff , the Daily Star [Lebanon],Monday, July 05, 2004
... A Boeing 727 bound for Lebanon crashed on take-off at Cotonou [Niger]on Dec. 25, 2003, due to uneven distribution of weight, French aviation experts said Friday, confirming an earlier finding.
"The direct cause of the accident was not the large amount of excess weight on board, but the distribution of the load," said France's Accident Investigations Bureau (BEA). The agency is drafting its report on the crash, which killed 139 people. Friday's statement confirmed the BEA's preliminary findings released by the Benin government in March....(snip)
I believe there were some news posts that speculated the plane was the same one which had earlier been reported missing and stolen in Africa.
And it looks like China has taken an interest in benin as well:
Benin, Togo recognize China's full market economy status
Xinhua, China - Jun 26, 2004
COTONOU, June 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Benin has recognized the full market economy status of China in an official exchange of notes between the two sides ...
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-06/26/content_1548657.htm
China, Benin sign economic, technological cooperation accords
Xinhua, China - Jun 25, 2004
COTONOU, June 25 (Xinhuanet) -- China and Benin signed five accords on economic and technological cooperation Friday in the Beninese capital Cotonou. ...
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-06/26/content_1547825.htm
China, Benin sign economic, technological cooperation accords
People's Daily, China - Jun 25, 2004
China and Benin signed five accords on economic and technological cooperation Friday in the Beninese capital Cotonou. ...
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200406/26/eng20040626_147599.html