Chadian authorities have announced the arrest of 17 individuals, including Sudanese arms traffickers, as part of a sweeping security crackdown in Guéra province, central Chad.
The operation, known as “Zero Criminals in Guéra,” marks a significant move by the transitional government to restore order in a region long plagued by violence and instability.
Unveiled to the public on June 21 in the provincial capital Mongo, the arrests follow three weeks of intensified operations led by General Abdoulaye Ibrahim Siam, the Delegate General of the Government.
Among those detained were traffickers caught attempting to smuggle a significant cache of weaponry into the region aboard a Toyota vehicle.
Authorities seized 23 firearms of varying calibers and approximately 3,000 rounds of ammunition.
The arrests come at a critical time for Chad, as insecurity continues to spill across borders from neighboring conflict zones, particularly Sudan.
Officials described the haul as “strategic,” underlining the importance of intercepting weapons flows that fuel regional violence.
Beyond the arms trafficking network, security forces also detained a number of highway bandits and escaped convicts from detention centers in Mongo and Am-Timan.
These individuals, implicated in numerous attacks on civilians, were presented to the media as part of the government’s push for transparency and public reassurance.
Speaking at the press conference, General Siam emphasized the government’s resolve:
“The authority of the State is not negotiable. Either we restore order, or we surrender. With me, we will see this search operation through to the end, because the security of people and their property is an absolute priority set by the Head of State, Marshal Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno.”
The crackdown has been widely welcomed by residents in Mongo and surrounding areas, who have long endured the effects of organized crime, armed robbery, and weak border control.
Many view the campaign as a turning point in the fight to reclaim territorial security and reinforce state legitimacy.
While officials have not disclosed the identities of all those arrested, investigations are ongoing, with further operations expected in the coming weeks.
The success of “Operation Zero Criminals” has raised hopes that Chad can begin to dismantle entrenched criminal networks and lay the groundwork for lasting stability in one of the country’s most strategically important regions.
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