In a bold demonstration of its commitment to dismantling organized crime networks, Benin authorities executed a major controlled burn operation on June 18, 2026, in Ahozon, Ouidah. The National Agency for the Recovery of Confiscated and Seized Assets (Anracs) oversaw the public incineration of substantial quantities of narcotics, including 95 kilograms of pure cocaine, alongside other seized psychotropic substances.
Major port seizure permanently neutralized
The operation targeted substances confiscated during multiple anti-drug operations, with the most significant haul being the 95 kilograms of cocaine. This shipment was intercepted in mid-May 2026 at the Port of Cotonou following an intelligence-led operation by the Special River and Maritime Police Unit (USPFM). Investigators discovered five drug bundles cleverly concealed within the strainer of a foreign-flagged container ship. The case was subsequently transferred to the Central Office for the Suppression of Illicit Drug and Precursor Trafficking (Ocertid) for thorough investigation.
Cannabis and psychotropic substances also destroyed
Beyond the cocaine, Anracs systematically eliminated large quantities of cannabis and various psychotropic substances that had been seized during recent judicial proceedings. The agency emphasized that this destruction serves a dual purpose: enforcing court rulings while preventing any possibility of these hazardous materials re-entering either domestic or international criminal networks.
High-security regulatory framework in place
The transportation, site security at Ahozon, and monitoring of the combustion process were managed by a joint military and police task force. Raynier Florent Gnansomon, Director-General of Anracs, stressed that this action underscores the agency’s legal mandate to manage and liquidate seized assets linked to transnational crime. “Destruction marks the definitive conclusion of judicial proceedings against mafia networks,” Gnansomon stated, highlighting the completion of multiple drug trafficking network dismantling cases in Benin.