Benin: dozens of motorbikes seized for lacking registration in Cotonou

A road checkpoint operation run on 17 June 2025 by the Fidjrossè police station, in the heart of Cotonou, led to the seizure of several motorbikes for lacking registration.

The operation, which lasted just over an hour, unfolded under the surprised gaze of residents and users of the paved intersection known locally as « Sur l’as ».

On site, a blue police pickup and several uniformed officers were stationed along the pavement, at various points of the intersection. The well-organised officers set up a filtering system further up the road: those positioned at a distance identified vehicles not in order and passed the information to colleagues who intercepted the riders a few metres further on.

« It’s because we were stubborn. If we’d registered our plates, we wouldn’t have been stopped. But the State also needs to think about lowering registration fees, it’s difficult for a lot of people, » one rider told Bip radio. He said he had been forced to go to the police station to sort out his situation.

All riders received summonses instructing them to report to the Fidjrossè police station to pay the fines and reclaim their seized motorbikes, currently held in an impound lot.

Through operations like this, police intend to reinforce the legal requirement to register two-wheeled vehicles, not only for safety reasons but also to make it easier to identify vehicles in the event of offences or crimes.