Guinean security forces have arrested 71 individuals, including a soldier, in a sweeping anti-drug operation dubbed “Piment” in the city of Kindia. The operation, backed by a requisition from Attorney General Fallou Doumbouya, targeted known drug hotspots and criminal zones across the region, resulting in large seizures of illegal substances and paraphernalia.
“All the defense and security forces of the Kindia region have joined forces to fight against organized crime, dismantle criminal zones and destroy them,” said Colonel Mamadi Condé, commander of the first military region in Kindia, emphasizing the collaborative effort between military, gendarmerie, and police units.
Among the key findings were notable quantities of Kush, a potent synthetic drug. Describing its impact, Colonel Condé noted: “A small piece costs 100,000 Guinean francs,” adding that the team also seized another drug known as “Suits,” which he called “the big brother of the drug Kush.” Authorities also confiscated 31 mobile phones of various brands during the raids.
The arrest of a soldier among the suspects has sparked concern within the security establishment. Addressing this development, Colonel Condé stated, “In the case of the soldier, I am not the decision-maker, we are not decision-makers, otherwise his fate is immediate. Someone who is supposed to defend territorial integrity, protect people and their property, who must fight crime, if he himself is the sponsor, it is complicated. It is up to the law to sort things out.”
Public support has been a vital element of the operation’s success. “This is the place to also thank the population for their contribution. Because today, everywhere we went, everything was destroyed in some places, burned. The population was there to cheer us on, to support us. That’s what struck us even more,” said Colonel Condé.
Authorities have made it clear that Operation Piment is not a one-time intervention, but the start of an enduring campaign. “We will not give up. The fight that has been launched will continue, it will be permanent,” he said. “So, it will not be a flash in the pan.”
As the suspects await judicial proceedings, the message from Kindia’s security forces is resolute: the war on drugs and organized crime is far from over.
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