Dassa-Zoumè: 34 kg of Indian hemp seized during a police operation in Fita

The intervention took place on a rural track, known for its isolation and proximity to certain informal transit zones.

According to information from the central district police station of Dassa-Zoumè, two individuals on a motorcycle, visibly startled by the presence of the security setup, fled as soon as they spotted the officers.

Abandoning two unregistered Bajaj motorcycles on their path, they also left behind a bag camouflaged to look like a parcel of fertilizer.

A thorough inspection of the bag revealed the presence of suspicious substances, subsequently identified as Indian hemp. An official weigh-in, carried out in collaboration with the agents of the Departmental Directorate of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (DDAEP) of the Collines, confirmed a total weight of 34 kilograms.

The package was immediately handed over to the Central Office for the Repression of Illicit Traffic of Drugs and Precursors (OCERTID) for further legal proceedings and technical analyses. A sweeping search, carried out in the area with the support of local young residents, did not succeed in capturing the two fleeing suspects.

The authorities ensure that active efforts are ongoing to dismantle the potentially involved network.

This recent seizure bears witness to the reinforcement of surveillance systems in rural areas, frequently used as transit corridors for illicit trafficking. It also illustrates the commitment of Benin’s authorities to combat the scourge of drugs that is increasingly affecting peripheral and agricultural communities.