West African authorities seize large quantities of narcotics and cyanide

Law enforcement and customs agencies across West Africa have conducted several major operations targeting the trafficking of narcotics and hazardous chemicals.

In Senegal, customs officials in Kédougou seized 1.5 kg of pure cocaine from a passenger bus and intercepted a truck carrying 7.5 tonnes of cyanide, believed to be intended for illegal gold mining sites.

In Burkina Faso, the National Police dismantled a cannabis trafficking network in Ouagadougou, seizing 86 kg of the drug, alongside counterfeit alcohol and cigarettes. Additionally, the National Coordination for the Fight against Fraud (CNLF) in Bobo-Dioulasso seized 2,200 drums of cyanide valued at 330 million FCFA, which had been hidden under mineral water shipments.

In Cameroon, customs agents intercepted 536 boxes of expired medications and dietary supplements during road controls in the West region. Meanwhile, in Nigeria, security forces in Agadez seized over 50 kg of cocaine valued at approximately 2.57 billion FCFA, resulting in the arrest of three individuals.