The global police body, Interpol, on Thursday said no fewer than forty-five people have been arrested in West Africa over the past three months in operations targeting drug trafficking and the financing of terrorism.
Interpol, which is headquartered in France, stated that those arrested included a suspected Islamic State member at the borders between Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, and a North African suspected of aiming to travel through Europe to join ISIS in Syria.
It added that cocaine valued at more than $50 million was also confiscated in Cabo Verde, as well as 10 tonnes of amphetamines in Burkina Faso.
“This operation marks a critical step in disrupting transnational organised crime networks that threaten regional stability and undermine efforts to build peace and foster development across West Africa,” Interpol said.
