Unscrupulous traders passed them off as one of the most prized objects of all time: unicorn horns.
Usually, Tibetan monks and traders pass through the market, buying crimson robes or printed scriptures, but the police lockdown has left many people stranded and desperate for news from home.
At an outpost only 20km from the Ivory Coast border, Kojo Daapa, whose family own many of the cocoa plantations in the town of Daapakrom, known locally as No Problem, says he does not smuggle cocoa, but he has seen traders pass by on their way to the border.
As long as jittery traders pass along rumors that another big bank, or two, or three, will have additional huge write-downs in the coming weeks, the worries will continue.
Even before the Internet age, dedicated traders passed cassette recordings of Saturday night's Essential mix to collectors around the world, providing a portal into the world of electronic music that eclipsed the local offerings for those not living in major hubs like London or New York.
No excuses Do not let the trader pass the buck by claiming 'it is manufacturer's fault': It is the seller who is responsible for dealing with returns.
Well, before the September press conference, traders were passing around Yellen's horoscope.
On Monday, traders were passing along rumors that a French bank and an Italian bank were on the verge of collapse.
La Lettre de l'Expansion reported this week that Fimat/Newedge did not bill Kerviel its usual fee on at least one trade and never informed anyone at SocGen's investment bank that a single trader was passing such large orders.
