Senegal Seizes Three Tonnes of Cocaine

Summary:

• Senegal’s military seized over three tonnes of cocaine from a ship in international waters off the coast of Dakar, marking one of the country’s largest drug busts, with the navy intercepting the vessel carrying ten crew members, including one Senegalese national.

Senegal’s military made a significant drug bust on Tuesday, seizing over three tonnes of cocaine from a ship anchored off the coast in one of the nation’s largest drug interceptions, as announced by the navy. The vessel, intercepted in international waters with a crew of 10 individuals, including one Senegalese national, was escorted by a navy patrol boat. The seized cargo, nearly three tonnes of pure cocaine, was discovered 150 kilometres (93 miles) off the coast of Dakar.

Although specific details about the crew and the cargo’s value were not disclosed, the navy reported the successful operation on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. The ship, intercepted overnight on Sunday, was brought to a naval base in Dakar for the identification and documentation of the confiscated products, the navy added.

This incident follows a pattern of heightened drug-related activities in the region, challenging the perception of West and Central Africa as merely a transit zone. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the area has seen an increase in drug consumption, with at least 57 tonnes of cocaine seized between 2019 and 2022. Notable interceptions occurred in Cape Verde (16.6 tonnes), Senegal (4.7 tonnes), and Benin (3.9 tonnes).

In addition to this recent operation, Senegal’s navy had seized over 800 kilos of cocaine from a ship near Dakar in January. Earlier, in October 2022, Senegalese customs had announced the confiscation of 300 kilos of cocaine, valued at nearly £37 million ($40 million), from a refrigerated truck originating from neighboring Mali.