Migrant smuggling: several suspects arrested in Mbour
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Lesoleil
Two operations in Mbour and Joal-Fadiouth led to the arrest of several people suspected of migrant smuggling and the discovery of 12 Malian nationals in a house. A boat transferring people to a pirogue bound for Spain was also intercepted at sea, Le Soleil reports.
Two operations carried out on 26 October 2026 by the Mbour gendarmerie company in western Senegal led to the arrest of several people suspected of migrant smuggling and the discovery of 12 Malian nationals in a house, Le Soleil reports.
In Mbour, two men were arrested after information was passed on by the Cayar brigade. They are suspected of criminal conspiracy, migrant smuggling and endangering the lives of others. The group found in the house comprised 10 boys and two girls, according to Le Soleil.
In Joal-Fadiouth, the gendarmerie and the Environmental Section detachment intercepted at sea a small boat transferring would-be migrants to a pirogue bound for Spain. Several people were arrested, notably over their alleged role in organising the journey and an attempt to bribe officials to secure the release of arrested people. Investigators seized a pirogue, a 40-horsepower engine, a Jakarta motorcycle and 20 fuel containers.
These operations are part of a series of interventions against migrant smuggling in Senegal. On 26 October, 28 suspects were referred to court after nine cases, while a police operation in Dakar led to 33 arrests on 27 October (the 28 suspects referred to court; the operation in Dakar).
