Bénin seizes and destroys 95 kg of cocaine in Ouidah operation
The Bénin government has intensified its fight against drug trafficking with a major incineration event in Ouidah. On Thursday, authorities publicly destroyed 95 kilograms of cocaine along with substantial quantities of other narcotics at a designated site in Ahozon, Ouidah commune. This decisive action underscores the country’s unwavering commitment to dismantling transnational crime networks operating through its ports and borders.
Major port seizure permanently neutralized
The most significant haul incinerated consisted of 95 kilograms of pure cocaine, intercepted in mid-May 2026 at the Port Autonome de Cotonou. Elite officers from the Special Fluvial and Maritime Police Unit (USPFM) discovered five carefully concealed drug bundles hidden within a ship’s intake screen. The vessel, flying a foreign flag, was undergoing routine inspection when the contraband was detected. Following the seizure, the case was transferred to the Central Office for the Suppression of Illicit Drug and Precursor Trafficking (Ocertid) for comprehensive investigation.
Raynier Florent Gnansomon, Director General of the National Agency for the Recovery of Confiscated and Seized Assets (Anracs), emphasized that this operation represents the culmination of months of coordinated efforts between judicial authorities and law enforcement agencies. “The destruction of these substances is not just about compliance with court orders; it’s about eradicating any possibility of these dangerous products re-entering circulation,” Gnansomon stated.
Cannabis and psychotropic substances also destroyed
In addition to the cocaine, authorities incinerated significant quantities of cannabis and psychotropic substances that had been seized during recent judicial proceedings. The Anracs confirmed that these drugs originated from multiple operations conducted as part of the national narcotics suppression strategy. The systematic destruction serves a dual purpose: enforcing judicial decisions while eliminating all risks of these substances being reintroduced into either local or international criminal networks.
High-security regulatory framework ensures complete neutralization
A robust security apparatus supervised every phase of this operation. Military and police units were deployed to transport the seized substances, secure the Ahozon incineration site, and monitor the entire combustion process. The entire operation unfolded under the watchful eyes of judicial authorities, high-ranking representatives from the Ministry of Justice, and senior officials from both the Republican Police and Bénin Armed Forces.
Gnansomon reiterated that the incineration marks the definitive conclusion of several judicial proceedings against major drug trafficking networks in Bénin. “By removing these substances from judicial custody and reducing them to ashes, we are ensuring they can never again fuel criminal enterprises,” he explained. This action demonstrates Bénin’s proactive approach to combating organized crime and protecting its citizens from the devastating effects of drug abuse.
