The Southern Regional Directorate of Senegalese Customs on Wednesday in Mamatoro, in the Ziguinchor department, incinerated five tonnes of drugs, blackened banknotes with a countervalue exceeding 5 billion CFA francs, and counterfeit medicines, as part of the fight against transnational organised crime.
According to the Senegalese Press Agency (APS), the operation involved the destruction of several prohibited goods seized during 2025, with an estimated total value of more than 5 billion CFA francs.
The destroyed items included five tonnes of cannabis, valued at around 500 million CFA francs; blackened banknotes worth over 5 billion CFA francs; and counterfeit medicines estimated at 9 million CFA francs, said Colonel Cheikh Diouf, Regional Director of Southern Customs, on the sidelines of the ceremony.
He noted that the seizures were the result of strong operational synergy among the defence and security forces, notably customs, the gendarmerie, the armed forces, the police, and water and forestry officers.
“These operations illustrate the constant vigilance and close cooperation among the forces engaged in combating transnational organized crime in the southern zone,” Colonel Diouf stressed.
He also revealed the seizure of 386.5 kilograms of cocaine in the Ziguinchor region with an estimated value of 30.8 billion CFA francs.
The consignment is currently held under seal by the public prosecutor’s office for procedural reasons.
The Deputy Governor of the Ziguinchor region, Alsény Bangoura, praised the results achieved thanks to the professionalism and vigilance of the defence and security forces.
He called on local communities to strengthen cooperation with these forces by reporting any suspicious activity, in order to prevent southern regions from becoming a haven for the criminal economy.
The incineration ceremony forms part of the preparatory activities for International Customs Day, observed on January 26 under the theme: “Customs protecting society through vigilance and commitment.”
DM/Sf/lb/gik/APA