Senegal is facing a record cocaine seizure, with nearly three tonnes of the drug intercepted by the Senegalese navy in international waters. The ship, coming from Latin America, was en route to southern Senegal, possibly Gambia or Guinea-Bissau. This seizure represents the largest drug bust in the country, surpassing previous seizures of 800 kg in January 2023 and one tonne in 2019.
This quantity of cocaine confirms the recent trend in the region, where Senegal has become a country of transformation and increase in value of drugs. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says the country has moved from a simple transit zone to a destination where drugs are processed before being transported to Europe.
Senegal began to confront this problem two years ago, in 2021, when clandestine cocaine laboratories were discovered in Ngaparou, near Dakar. This led to the seizure of 275 kg of drugs. Since then, Senegalese authorities have strengthened their efforts to combat drug trafficking, in cooperation with other countries in the region.
This recent seizure of cocaine demonstrates the extent of this scourge and underlines the importance of international cooperation to combat drug trafficking. Senegalese authorities arrested ten people on board the ship, including Senegalese, Cape Verdean, Nigerian and Guinean nationals. These individuals will all be interviewed as part of the ongoing investigation.
This record seizure highlights the challenges facing Senegal in the fight against drug trafficking. The government must continue to strengthen its efforts in security and international cooperation to put an end to this scourge which threatens the stability and well-being of the country.