Niamey, June 7, 2026 – In a major step against drug trafficking, Nigerien authorities incinerated a large cocaine shipment at the Central Livestock Laboratory (LABOCEL) on Sunday. The operation was carried out under the supervision of the National Coordination Commission for Drug Control (CNCLD).
Over 319 kilograms of cocaine destroyed
A total of 280 bricks of cocaine, weighing 319.745 kilograms, were incinerated. This large quantity came from two major seizures: 47 bricks intercepted in Gaya, in the Dosso region, on September 29, 2025, and 233 bricks seized in Zinder on May 19, 2026.
Before the incineration, agents from the Directorate of Technical and Scientific Police (DPTS) analyzed a sample of the substance. Tests confirmed it was cocaine hydrochloride (HCL).
Destruction in line with international drug management standards
In his remarks, CNCLD President Mai Moussa Elhadji Bashir stressed that the operation meets international requirements for managing seized narcotics. He noted that authorities must destroy confiscated drugs within reasonable timeframes to avoid storage risks, even as judicial proceedings may stretch over several years.
Mobilization of judicial and security authorities
Justice Minister Alio Daouda presided over the ceremony and observed the destruction process alongside several high-ranking judicial and security officials. The event also saw the presence of the Public Prosecutor at the Niamey High Court, the Director of the Central Office for the Repression of Illicit Drug Trafficking (OCRTIS), the Director General of LABOCEL, and representatives from defense and security forces.
In sum, the destruction of over three hundred kilograms of cocaine underscores the determination of Nigerien authorities to intensify the fight against drug trafficking networks, a phenomenon posing a growing challenge to security and stability in the Sahel region.
