West Africa sees major drug busts in Mali, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire

In Mali, the Central Office for Narcotics seized more than 3 kg of kush on 8 July 2026, arresting two alleged traffickers in the districts of Djicoroni‑Para and Sotuba. The individuals, a 28‑year‑old motor‑taxi driver and a 29‑year‑old owner, were taken into custody for possession and distribution of the seized cannabis.

In Senegal, police carried out two separate operations in July 2026. On 12 July, investigators intercepted a network in Dakar that yielded 96 bottles of nitrous‑oxide, 562 capsules, large quantities of MD‑synthetic drug and €175 000 in cash, leading to four arrests. Later that night, customs officers in Karang discovered 1 590 ecstasy tablets hidden inside the prosthetic leg of a disabled trafficker, resulting in an additional detention.

Côte d’Ivoire police conducted a special raid on 12 July in the Adjamé‑Williamsville area of Abidjan, demolishing two illicit smoking dens and seizing pipes, syringes, lighters and other paraphernalia. The operation also led to the arrest of eight individuals without identification documents.