Burkina Faso and Senegal crack down on contraband, seizing fertilizer and cocaine

Burkina Faso customs agents conducted a night operation in the city of Léo on 14‑15 July 2026, uncovering more than 300 tonnes of foreign‑origin fertilizer hidden in clandestine stores. The seizure, valued at over 160 million CFA francs, was the result of intelligence‑led surveillance and the use of small‑volume transport methods to evade customs checkpoints.

In Senegal, the Gendarmerie's anti‑drug unit (GLAD) carried out a targeted raid in Dalifort on 15 July 2026, arresting a foreign suspect and confiscating 370 g of cocaine worth about 11.1 million CFA francs. The operation follows earlier large drug interceptions in the country and reflects ongoing efforts to disrupt West African transit routes for South American narcotics.

Both actions illustrate heightened enforcement by West African authorities against illicit trade, aiming to protect state revenues and public safety.