Benin dismantles major drug trafficking network with destruction of 95kg cocaine in Ouidah
In a decisive move against organized crime, Benin’s national authorities carried out a high-profile incineration operation on June 18, 2026, at the SGDS waste management site in Ahozon, Ouidah. The National Agency for the Recovery of Confiscated and Seized Assets (ANRACS) publicly destroyed substantial quantities of narcotics and psychotropic substances that had been intercepted nationwide.
The operation underscores Benin’s unwavering commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks operating through its ports and borders. Under strict judicial oversight, the incineration was attended by senior magistrates, justice ministry officials, and security forces including the Republican Police and Beninese Armed Forces.
Major port seizure permanently neutralized
The most significant consignment destroyed consisted of 95 kilograms of pure cocaine, intercepted in mid-May 2026 at the Port of Cotonou. Elite officers from the Special River and Maritime Police Unit discovered five packages of narcotics cleverly concealed within the strainer of a foreign-flagged container ship. The case was subsequently handed to the Central Office for Combating Illicit Drug Trafficking and Precursors (Ocertid) for comprehensive investigation.
ANRACS Director General Raynier Florent Gnansomon confirmed that these substances were part of multiple operations conducted under the national anti-drug strategy. “This destruction represents the culmination of months of investigative work,” he stated. “By eliminating these substances, we ensure they cannot re-enter the market or fund further criminal activities.”
Cannabis and psychotropics also eradicated
In addition to cocaine, significant quantities of cannabis and psychotropic substances were incinerated. These included seizures made during recent judicial proceedings targeting local and transnational drug networks operating across Benin.
The agency emphasized that systematic destruction serves a dual purpose: enforcing court decisions and eliminating any possibility of these dangerous substances being reintroduced into either domestic or international criminal networks.
High-security regulatory framework ensures safety
The transportation, site security at Ahozon, and monitoring of the combustion process were managed by a coordinated task force of military and police personnel. Every step was conducted in accordance with strict legal and environmental protocols to prevent contamination or leakage.
“This destruction is not just procedural—it is a critical component of our legal mandate,” stated Gnansomon. “By removing these substances from judicial custody through incineration, we finalize the dismantling of major criminal networks operating in Benin.”
