INTERPOL Operation: 62 arrested, ammunition, 136 stolen vehicles seized in West Africa
A major INTERPOL-coordinated border security operation across West Africa has resulted in 62 arrests and the seizure of large quantities of firearms, ammunition, explosives, drugs, counterfeit medicines, and stolen vehicles.
Operation Screen West Africa 2025, conducted between July and October, brought together law enforcement agencies from 12 West African nations—including Ghana—to strengthen border security, disrupt transnational organised crime, and track individuals linked to terrorism.
During the operation, frontline officers at land, air, and sea borders utilised INTERPOL Mobile Devices and other systems to access global databases, performing a total of 1.7 million real-time checks, up from 1.3 million in 2024.
Key Results:
- Nine arrests of individuals suspected of terrorist affiliations.
- Nearly 250 database “hits”, including seven linked to INTERPOL Red Notices and nine linked to Blue Notices concerning terrorism.
- 21 victims of human trafficking were rescued in Ghana after being held in Nigeria and exploited in connection with fraudulent schemes.
Notably, Burkina Faso authorities arrested two individuals wanted by Côte d’Ivoire for their involvement in a 2020 Al-Qaeda-affiliated attack that killed over ten security personnel. Both were previously subject to INTERPOL Blue Notices, which request information on a person’s identity, location, or activities for criminal investigations.
A third suspect with links to terrorism was also arrested, previously flagged during a 2024 INTERPOL operation in Togo.
INTERPOL Executive Director Police Services pro tempore, Cyril Gout, commented: “These cases highlight how the operational support we offer member countries and our specialist tools can link suspected terrorists and disrupt their attempts to endanger communities. We remain committed to countering these threats and strengthening security across the region.”
The operation also focused on maritime and harbour checks, with authorities identifying vessels engaging in deceptive shipping practices, including “dark operations” where ships switch off identification systems and frequent flag changes to evade scrutiny.
Officers in Ghana were also able to free 21 victims of human trafficking who had been held in Nigeria and exploited in connection with fraudulent schemes.
Seizures and Recoveries Include:
- 17 caches of weapons and ammunition
- Explosives, including dynamite and detonators
- 136 stolen vehicles
- 731 kg of cannabis
- Counterfeit medicines, including fake opioid painkillers
- Counterfeit currency and fraudulent documents
These seized items are believed to finance terrorism and organised crime.
The 12 participating countries were Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Operation Screen West Africa 2025 was funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, and the United States Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) under Projects I-CT Shield, WATA, and AGWE.
