Senegalese customs authorities have announced the seizure of more than 3.5 billion CFA francs in counterfeit banknotes during two separate operations in the Fatick and Kaolack regions, bringing the total value of illicit currency intercepted since January to over 20 billion CFA francs.
In the first operation, carried out on June 28 in Fatick, customs officers discovered 679 counterfeit euro notes concealed in a partially built house, with an estimated value of 3.39 billion CFA francs.
According to a statement released by customs officials, the discovery followed intelligence reports that led to the arrest of an initial suspect in Foundiougne.
A second individual was later detained in the Ndiaye-Ndiaye district, where two boxes of counterfeit notes were recovered. Both suspects remain in the custody of the Financial Prosecutor’s Office.
A separate raid on July 17 in Kaolack by the Nioro Mobile Brigade led to the seizure of 3,400 fake $100 bills, equivalent to 191 million CFA francs.
The operation, conducted at a local inn, resulted in the arrest of a 40-year-old man, who has since been handed over to judicial authorities.
These incidents add to a growing list of significant seizures across the country.
In Ziguinchor, customs agents intercepted more than 1.1 billion CFA francs in counterfeit currency during an overnight operation between June 24 and 25, detaining four suspects.
In May, another operation in Bignona uncovered 1.54 billion CFA francs in fake banknotes.
Customs officers have also intensified their crackdown on counterfeit pharmaceuticals and narcotics.
Recent operations include the confiscation of 581 kilograms of fake medicines valued at 189 million CFA francs in Kaffrine, and over 4,000 boxes of veterinary and medical products worth 26 million CFA francs in Richard-Toll on July 7.
Authorities say these actions, coordinated with the army and gendarmerie, form part of broader security efforts, including “Les Îles Carones 2,” which has destroyed cannabis fields and seized 3.73 tonnes of “yamba” (Indian hemp) in the country’s south.
The Customs Administration reiterated its commitment to tackling economic crime, warning that counterfeit currency and illegal goods are driven by organized transnational networks threatening Senegal’s financial stability.
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