Twelve people, including Nigeriens, Malians, Moroccans and Algerians, were arrested over the trafficking and jailed in the capital’s prison.[1] BBC corroborated that twelve people involved in the trafficking were arrested, naming Nigerien, Malian, Moroccan and Algerian nationalities.[2] The detainees were held in the Koutoukale high-security prison in the capital.[3]
Police intercepted three tonnes of cannabis resin on Friday in Niamey.[2] Authorities called it a record seizure of resin probably arriving from the Maghreb.[1] Interior Minister Mohamed Bazoum presented the haul to the press and valued the three tonnes at three billion CFA francs (4.5 million euros).[1] The drug was concealed in fruit and vegetable crates.[1] Officers seized it in an assault on a garage of more than 3,000 square metres in the Niamey 2000 district after surveillance by the central anti-drug office OCRTIS.[3] Intelligence services had learned since April that ten tonnes of cannabis had entered Niamey, but officers recovered only the three tonnes.[1] Bazoum said the other seven tonnes were perhaps still on national territory or had already crossed the borders.[1] Police said part of the resin was sold locally while most was camouflaged in cattle-feed bags for re-export to regional markets.[1]
Authorities described it as the first record drug seizure in Niger.[3] On the morning of 22 June, authorities incinerated two and a half tonnes of the resin at the eastern exit of Niamey.[3] Prosecutor Samna Chaibou said the burning was brought forward before the 26 June anti-drug day for security and health reasons, leaving the case to continue in court.[3]
