The Mabanda territorial gendarmerie brigade arrested five Gabonese nationals on 11 September 2026 in possession of nearly 70 kg of cannabis and 1,373 tramadol tablets, according to judicial sources.[1][2] The suspects, described as gold miners based in Mouila, were carrying seven bags of cannabis plus the tablets, with an estimated market value of 10.052 million CFA francs.[1][2]
The five were named as Donnevy Massandé, Wensley Mbena-Mbena, Wilfried London Marat, Omer Brice Chevignon Mandoh and Ndho Mateba.[2] They were presented to the Tchibanga prosecutor’s office and face charges of drug trafficking and laundering its proceeds under Articles 597 to 603 of the Penal Code.[1] Prosecutor Guychard Ndong Mebalé said the case falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Libreville court of first instance, to which the suspects were to be transferred.[1][2]
Investigators believe the drugs may have come from the neighbouring Republic of Congo; that assessment remains part of the ongoing investigation.[1][2]