Burkina Faso Customs, in collaboration with the National Police has intercepted 28.6 kilograms of gold valued at approximately 1.43 billion FCFA on December 17, 2024.
The operation, hailed as exemplary by authorities, was announced in a statement on Wednesday, December 18.
According to reports, the gold was concealed within the clothing of three individuals travelling on a bus bound for Lomé, Togo, was seized at the Cinkansé checkpoint in the eastern town of Bittou.
Acting on an anonymous tip, customs officials conducted discreet surveillance before detaining the suspects. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the gold was being transported without legal documentation.
This decisive action falls under the enforcement of articles 24, 270, and 261 of Burkina Faso’s Customs Code, which impose severe penalties for smuggling.
The detained individuals have been handed over to the appropriate judicial authorities for further investigation and prosecution.
The Director General of Customs praised the operation, emphasising its importance in safeguarding national resources.
He also reiterated the government’s commitment to combating illicit trade and ensuring that Burkina Faso’s natural wealth is exploited legally and transparently.
It will be recalled that recently, Burkina Faso’s government received its first gold bars after processing fine coal cargoes abandoned at the Essakane mine. Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo received the gold bars in Ouagadougou on Tuesday on behalf of President Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
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