Bénin strengthens drug war with destruction of 95kg cocaine in Ouidah

On a decisive Thursday in Ahozon, within Ouidah’s municipal limits, the Republic of Bénin demonstrated its unwavering commitment to dismantling organized crime networks. The National Agency for the Recovery of Confiscated and Seized Assets (Anracs) executed a high-profile public incineration of multiple drug shipments, including 95 kilograms of pure cocaine intercepted earlier in the year.

Major port seizure permanently neutralized

The landmark operation saw 95 kilograms of cocaine — the largest single consignment in recent history — reduced to ashes. This cocaine shipment had been intercepted in mid-May during a targeted surveillance operation at the Port of Cotonou. Elite officers from the Special River and Maritime Police Unit (USPFM) discovered five ingeniously concealed drug packages hidden within a ship’s intake strainer. The case was immediately transferred to the Central Office for the Repression of Illicit Drug and Precursor Trafficking (Ocertid) for comprehensive investigation.

Raynier Florent Gnansomon, Director General of Anracs, confirmed that these substances originated from multiple anti-narcotics operations aligned with Bénin’s national strategy against transnational drug networks. The destruction ceremony was not merely symbolic; it marked the definitive judicial closure of several high-profile drug trafficking cases.

Cannabis and psychotropic substances also destroyed

Beyond cocaine, authorities incinerated substantial quantities of cannabis and various psychotropic substances. These items had been seized during coordinated law enforcement operations across the country. Anracs emphasized that this systematic destruction serves a dual purpose: enforcing court rulings and eliminating any possibility of these dangerous substances re-entering either local or international criminal networks.

High-security regulatory framework ensures safety

The entire process — from secure transport to site management and supervised combustion — was executed under a robust joint security protocol involving military and police forces. The site at Ahozon was locked down with perimeter controls, real-time monitoring, and restricted access to authorized personnel only.

« The incineration of these substances fulfills a critical legal mandate, » stated Gnansomon. He highlighted that Anracs operates within a strict regulatory framework to liquidate seized assets tied to transnational crime. By converting these toxic products into ash, the agency ensures that no vestige remains to fuel future criminal enterprises.

The event underscored Bénin’s intensified efforts to curb drug trafficking and reinforce regional security through decisive judicial actions and transparent enforcement.