Major INTERPOL Operation in West Africa Nets 62 Arrests, Disrupts Terror Networks
DAKAR, Senegal – A sweeping international police operation across West Africa has led to the arrest of 62 suspects, including individuals with alleged links to Al-Qaeda, and the seizure of a massive cache of weapons, drugs, and stolen vehicles, INTERPOL announced.
Dubbed “Operation Screen West Africa 2025,” the initiative united law enforcement agencies from 12 countries in a coordinated crackdown on transnational organized crime. The four-month operation, which ran from July to October, resulted in real-time checks on 1.7 million individuals at border points across the region.
The operation yielded significant results, disrupting a wide spectrum of illicit activities. Among the most critical findings was the arrest of nine terrorism suspects, the majority of whom are believed to be affiliated with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and other allied groups.
The seized contraband underscores the diverse nature of the criminal networks targeted. Authorities confiscated weapons, explosives, narcotics, and a substantial quantity of counterfeit medicines. In a major blow to vehicle theft rings, 136 stolen cars were recovered and identified.
Beyond terrorism and trafficking, the operation also addressed human exploitation. In Ghana, 21 victims of human trafficking were rescued. The initiative further uncovered additional criminal enterprises, including sophisticated maritime fraud schemes.
The participating countries included Ghana, Nigeria, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. The operational efforts were supported with funding from Germany, Denmark, and the United States.
A representative from INTERPOL highlighted the success of the collaboration, stating that the operation “demonstrates the critical importance of real-time data sharing and joint action in combating the interconnected threats of terrorism, trafficking, and organized crime in West Africa.”
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