Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
An INTERPOL-coordinated border security operation in West Africa has resulted in 45 arrests and the seizure of drugs, counterfeit medicines, and stolen vehicles worth millions of dollars.
Held from 21 October to 24 November, Operation Screen West Africa 2024 brought together law enforcement agencies from 12 West African countries to strengthen border security and disrupt transnational organized crime networks.
The operation notably led to the detection of a suspected Islamic State member at the Mali-Niger-Burkina Faso tri-border area and thwarted the plans of a North African suspect planning to transit through Europe to join ISIS in Syria.
Frontline officers at land, air and sea border points were provided with INTERPOL Mobile Devices to access INTERPOL’s critical global intelligence, enabling them to conduct in real time over 1.3 million checks against INTERPOL’s databases.
Checks against INTERPOL’s Stolen and Lost Travel Documents database detected 82 individuals travelling on stolen and irregular passports. Mauritanian authorities also launched an investigation into the international trafficking of French and Spanish passports.
Additionally, 11 suspects wanted internationally under INTERPOL Red Notices were arrested during the operation.
Operational seizures included:
• 1.6 tonnes of cocaine worth over USD 50 million in Cabo Verde
• 10 tonnes of amphetamines in Burkina Faso
• 33 types of counterfeit medicines in Benin and Togo
• 40 tonnes of substandard pharmaceuticals in Côte d’Ivoire
Over 100 luxury vehicles stolen in Canada and European countries were also recovered, exposing a network that trafficked stolen cars to West Africa. Almost 50 per cent of the stolen vehicles originated from Canada, where data sharing via INTERPOL's database has helped identify over 1,500 stolen Canadian vehicles worldwide since February 2024.
The proceeds from these stolen vehicles often fund organized crime activities, including arms smuggling, drug trafficking, and terror networks.
An INTERPOL-coordinated border security operation in West Africa has resulted in 45 arrests and the seizure of drugs, counterfeit medicines, and stolen vehicles worth millions of dollars.
Held from 21 October to 24 November, Operation Screen West Africa 2024 brought together law enforcement agencies from 12 West African countries to strengthen border security and disrupt transnational organized crime networks.
The operation notably led to the detection of a suspected Islamic State member at the Mali-Niger-Burkina Faso tri-border area and thwarted the plans of a North African suspect planning to transit through Europe to join ISIS in Syria.
Frontline officers at land, air and sea border points were provided with INTERPOL Mobile Devices to access INTERPOL’s critical global intelligence, enabling them to conduct in real time over 1.3 million checks against INTERPOL’s databases.
Checks against INTERPOL’s Stolen and Lost Travel Documents database detected 82 individuals travelling on stolen and irregular passports. Mauritanian authorities also launched an investigation into the international trafficking of French and Spanish passports.
Additionally, 11 suspects wanted internationally under INTERPOL Red Notices were arrested during the operation.
Operational seizures included:
• 1.6 tonnes of cocaine worth over USD 50 million in Cabo Verde
• 10 tonnes of amphetamines in Burkina Faso
• 33 types of counterfeit medicines in Benin and Togo
• 40 tonnes of substandard pharmaceuticals in Côte d’Ivoire
Over 100 luxury vehicles stolen in Canada and European countries were also recovered, exposing a network that trafficked stolen cars to West Africa. Almost 50 per cent of the stolen vehicles originated from Canada, where data sharing via INTERPOL's database has helped identify over 1,500 stolen Canadian vehicles worldwide since February 2024.
The proceeds from these stolen vehicles often fund organized crime activities, including arms smuggling, drug trafficking, and terror networks.
