Niger Authorities Destroy Over $714,000 Worth of Illicit Drugs in Major Anti-Trafficking Operation

Niger authorities have destroyed record quantity of illicit drugs worth more than 420m CFA francs ($714,000 approximately) during a public ceremony held on Wednesday in the city of Dosso.

The high-profile event was supervised by the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Mr. Alio Daouda and other key government officials, including Governor Colonel-Major Bana Alhassane, the Prefect of Dosso, as well as representatives from the Defence and Security Forces (FDS) and the Ministry of Justice.

This operation, part of ongoing national efforts to combat narcotics, was timed to coincide with the 38th International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, commemorated globally on June 26.

According to officials, the destroyed substances underscore a significant evolution in the narcotics market within Niger. While traditional drugs were present, including 305 kilograms of cannabis, 0.8 grams of cocaine, and 1.35 kilograms of crack cocaine, the most alarming trend involved the massive presence of diverted pharmaceutical products.

The incinerated stockpile included: 158,621 tablets of Exol, 135,295 tablets of Diazepam, 345,153 tablets of Tramadol, 81 boxes of Phenergan, and 77 boxes of Neocodion.

Authorities noted a growing reliance on psychotropic medications as substances of abuse, attributing this shift to their relative affordability and ease of access compared to conventional narcotics.

During his remarks, Mr. Tanaou Moussa, Prosecutor at the High Court of Dosso, hailed the destruction as a landmark moment in the fight against drug trafficking.

He emphasised the importance of recent legislative advancements, particularly Ministerial Orders No. 000100 and 000101 of January 29, 2024, which reclassified drugs like Exol and Pregabalin under Schedule III of Ordinance 99-42, thereby closing prior legal loopholes that had hampered prosecution efforts.

Prosecutor Moussa also highlighted the establishment of the National Drug Control Coordination Commission, designed to enhance cooperation between national agencies in the fight against narcotics.

The event in Dosso marks a critical step in Niger’s broader anti-crime and public health strategy. Officials pledged to continue reinforcing legal and operational mechanisms aimed at curbing drug abuse and trafficking.

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