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The police in northern Niger found and seized over 200 kilograms of cocaine, estimated to be worth about US$8.7 million, in the official car of a mayor, two sources close to law enforcement agencies in the African country revealed yesterday Monday to Reuters news agency.
The mayor and his driver, who were in the vehicle, were arrested after 199 packets of cocaine were found at a checkpoint on a road in northern Niger, just outside the commercial hub of Agadez, in the desert, the sources explained.
A statement from the Office for the Control of Narcotics (OCRTIS) confirmed a record seizure of more than 200 kilos of cocaine in Agadez, but without going into details.
West Africa, which is often part of the drug trafficking route from South America to Europe, has announced several record seizures in recent years.
Senegal, for example, seized over two tonnes of pure cocaine found on a ship off its Atlantic Ocean coast in October; The Gambia seized almost three tonnes of cocaine in January, originating from Ecuador.
After the Niger authorities seized 17 tons of cannabis in May, the coordinator of Interpol's anti-drug section, Jan Drapal, had pointed out to Reuters that drug lords are now trafficking much larger quantities because of the increase in demand in Europe.
Source: APM
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