Gambiaj.com – (ZIGUINCHOR, Senegal) – The Senegalese military says it has successfully carried out a major security operation in North Sindian, near the border with The Gambia, destroying cannabis farms, arresting suspected rebels, and seizing weapons in what authorities describe as a decisive blow against criminal networks operating in the area.
The operation, code-named “Elone,” was conducted between May 1 and May 7, 2026, in the commune of Djibidione, an area long considered sensitive because of the presence of armed groups and illicit trafficking routes along the Senegal-Gambia border.
According to Senegalese security sources, over six tonnes of Indian hemp were seized during the operation.
The military said a large quantity of the cannabis had already been processed and prepared for consumption when it was seized. Authorities estimate the street value of the drugs at more than 400 million CFA francs.
Security forces also arrested 14 suspected rebel elements and recovered weapons and other equipment during the raids.
Unlike several past operations in the Casamance region that sometimes resulted in clashes or casualties, the military said Operation “Elone” was completed without injuries or major incidents among members of the Defense and Security Forces.
Bundles of cannabis and rifles seized during the operation
The outcome is being viewed by Senegalese authorities as a significant operational success, particularly because the mission combined intelligence, coordinated ground action, and cooperation between military and gendarmerie units.
The operation involved the Senegalese Armed Forces working alongside the Ziguinchor Gendarmerie Legion, reflecting what officials described as strengthened inter-agency coordination in tackling armed criminal activity near the Gambian frontier.
On Thursday, Commander of Military Zone No. 5, Colonel Cheikh Gueye, visited troops in the field to assess the results of the mission and encourage soldiers engaged in the operation.
According to Colonel Gueye, the objective was “to act and strike at the heart of the criminal economy in this part of North Sindian,” adding that the mission achieved its goals successfully.
He said significant human and logistical resources were deployed to ensure the success of the operation and praised the contribution of units from the Senegalese National Gendarmerie.
The latest mission forms part of a broader security push by Senegalese authorities to dismantle trafficking networks and weaken armed groups operating in the Casamance area, especially zones bordering The Gambia.
Operation “Elone” comes just weeks after another military mission known as “Kalathiaye,” carried out in March 2026 in the same region as part of ongoing efforts against illicit trafficking and rebel activity.
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