Niamey, 7 June 2026 – Nigerien authorities have taken a significant step in the fight against drug trafficking by incinerating a large cocaine seizure collected during multiple operations across the country. The ceremony took place on Sunday at the Central Livestock Laboratory (LABOCEL), under the supervision of the National Commission for Drug Control Coordination (CNCLD).
Over 319 kilograms of cocaine destroyed
In total, 280 bricks of cocaine, weighing 319.745 kilograms, were destroyed. This large amount came from two major seizures: 47 bricks intercepted in Gaya, in the Dosso region, on 29 September 2025, and 233 bricks seized in Zinder on 19 May 2026.
Before the incineration, agents from the Directorate of Technical and Scientific Police (DPTS) analysed a sample of the substance. Tests confirmed it was cocaine hydrochloride (HCL).
Destruction follows international drug management standards
In his remarks, CNCLD President Mai Moussa Elhadji Bashir noted that this operation complies with international standards for handling seized narcotics. He explained that authorities must destroy confiscated drugs within a reasonable timeframe to avoid storage risks, even while legal proceedings may last several years.
Judicial and security authorities mobilise
Presiding over the ceremony, Justice Minister Alio Daouda observed the destruction process alongside senior judicial and security officials. Those present also included the Public Prosecutor at the Niamey High Court, the Director of the Central Office for the Repression of Illicit Drug Trafficking (OCRTIS), the Director General of LABOCEL, and representatives from the defence and security forces.
Overall, the destruction of more than three hundred kilograms of cocaine highlights the determination of Nigerien authorities to intensify the fight against drug trafficking networks, a phenomenon that poses a growing challenge to security and stability in the Sahel region.
