West African authorities seize large drug shipments in Senegal and Niger

Senegal's Central Office for the Repression of Illicit Drug Trafficking (OCRTIS) carried out a series of operations between 9 and 26 May, targeting synthetic drugs, opioids, MDMA and Indian hemp across several regions. The raids resulted in the arrest of more than a dozen suspects and the seizure of items including Kush, crack, Tramadol, Tapentadol, MDMA, and dozens of kilograms of cannabis‑derived hemp.

In Niger, security forces from the mixed patrol in the Ingall district intercepted a suspect on 22 May who was riding a motorcycle and found a broken cannabis brick, 29 hemp cones and a motorcycle belonging to the individual. The suspect, a Nigerien national, was taken into custody for further investigation.

Both operations illustrate a coordinated crackdown on drug trafficking in the Sahel region, involving the seizure of significant quantities of illegal substances and the detention of multiple traffickers.