Gambiaj.com – (Dakar, Senegal) – Senegalese anti-drug officers of the Keur Massar Brigade de Recherches have apprehended three individuals, including a Gambian national, for their involvement in an ecstasy trafficking network operating out of Dakar. Senegal has been making arrests as part of its ongoing efforts to stop the spread of synthetic drugs, especially among its youth.

A tip to gendarmes about a drug trafficking network headed by B. Mbye, a well-known Gambian dealer in the region, sparked the start of the inquiry. Under the direction of Major Abdou Aziz Kandji, law enforcement devised an undercover plan to infiltrate the network. An officer posed as a buyer, strategically establishing contact with the suspects to unveil the network’s operations.

The undercover investigation reached a critical juncture when an accomplice of Mbye, A. Mbengue, met with the officer in the Parcelles-Assainies district of Keur Massar. During this encounter, Mbengue supplied three ecstasy pills to the officer, who then negotiated a larger transaction of 200 pills to be held at Mbye’s residence in Tivaouane Peulh.

The staged exchange led authorities directly to Mbye’s residence, where gendarmes moved in swiftly, arresting all three suspects: B. Mbye, A. Mbengue, and a third associate, Y. Sall. Alongside the drugs, law enforcement confiscated a vehicle and additional items tied to the operation, strengthening the case against the suspects.

In a surprising confession, Mbye admitted to sourcing the ecstasy from The Gambia, revealing a cross-border dimension to the operation. Senegalese law enforcement has been increasingly vigilant in addressing the challenges of transnational drug trafficking networks. With synthetic drugs like ecstasy becoming more prevalent, particularly among young people, the government has intensified its efforts to dismantle such operations and raise public awareness about the dangers of drug use.

Following their arrest, the suspects were presented before the tribunal of Pikine-Guédiawaye, where judicial proceedings are set to continue. This high-profile arrest highlights the success of Senegal’s proactive policing and intelligence gathering. The Keur Massar Gendarmes’ takedown of this network has disrupted an important trafficking route, underscoring the effectiveness of collaboration and strategy in countering organized crime.

As Senegal faces increasing pressures from drug-related crimes, law enforcement agencies are focused on both preventative measures and punitive action to reduce the spread of narcotics in the region.