Malian customs authorities have intercepted a significant shipment of explosives and mercury smuggled into the country aboard two passenger buses, in what officials describe as a critical operation against cross-border trafficking networks.
The seizure, carried out by the Mobile Intervention Brigade (BMI) on July 8 in Bamako, was announced by the General Directorate of Customs on Wednesday.
Acting on precise intelligence, customs agents stopped the vehicles at approximately 8 p.m. and escorted them to the capital for thorough inspection.
The search revealed a cache of 165 sticks of explosives, 825 electric detonators, and 49 coils of detonating cord stretching over 12,000 meters. Additionally, nine canisters of mercury, weighing a total of 360 kilograms, were discovered. Authorities say the items were expertly concealed in customized compartments — hidden in emergency fuel tanks and within air conditioning units — designed to evade standard screening procedures.
Customs officials say the recovered materials are typically used in the manufacture of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), posing a clear risk to public safety and regional stability. The discovery underscores the growing nexus between illicit trafficking and insecurity in the Sahel.
“This seizure is the result of targeted intelligence and coordinated intervention,” stated Inspector General Amadou Konaté, who leads Mali’s General Directorate of Customs. He credited enhanced surveillance measures and inter-agency collaboration, supported by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, for the operation’s success.
Officials say the bust represents a significant disruption to criminal supply chains in West Africa and demonstrates Mali’s commitment to confronting organized crime and protecting its borders.
As authorities continue their investigation, the incident highlights the increasing sophistication of smuggling networks and the crucial role of customs enforcement in national and regional security.
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