In a decisive move against organized crime, authorities in Benin incinerated a substantial haul of narcotics on June 19, 2026, at a controlled site in Ahozon, Ouidah. The operation, spearheaded by the National Agency for the Recovery of Confiscated and Seized Assets (Anracs), saw the destruction of 95 kilograms of cocaine alongside significant quantities of cannabis and psychotropic substances, all previously intercepted across the country.
Major coastal bust leads to destruction of high-purity cocaine
The largest consignment neutralized in this operation was the 95 kg of pure cocaine, seized in mid-May 2026 at the Port of Cotonou. Elite officers from the Special Fluvial and Maritime Police Unit (USPFM) uncovered the illicit cargo cleverly concealed within the strainer of a foreign-flagged container ship. Following the interdiction, the case was transferred to the Central Office for the Repression of Illicit Drug and Precursors Trafficking (Ocertid) for further investigation.
During a press briefing, Raynier Florent Gnansomon, Director-General of Anracs, emphasized that these substances were amassed through coordinated efforts targeting transnational drug networks operating within Benin’s borders.
Cannabis and psychotropics also meet their end
Beyond the cocaine, Anracs oversaw the incineration of large quantities of cannabis and psychotropic drugs, all seized in recent judicial proceedings. The agency reiterated that the systematic destruction of these substances serves a dual purpose: enforcing court rulings while eliminating any possibility of re-entry into local or international criminal networks.
High-security protocol ensures flawless execution
The entire process—from the secure transportation of the narcotics to the incineration site and the monitoring of the combustion—was meticulously overseen by a joint military and police task force. The event took place at the waste management facility operated by the Waste and Sanitation Management Company (SGDS), under the strict supervision of judicial authorities, senior officials from the Ministry of Justice, and representatives from the Beninese Republican Police and Armed Forces.
In a firm statement, Gnansomon underscored that the destruction of these substances aligns with Anracs’ legal mandate to manage and liquidate assets confiscated in transnational crime cases. By removing these toxic substances from judicial custody through incineration, the agency marks the definitive conclusion of multiple operations dismantling criminal syndicates operating in Benin.
