Niamey, 7 june 2026 – Nigerien authorities have taken a decisive step in their battle against drug trafficking by incinerating a large cocaine haul seized through various operations nationwide. The destruction ceremony took place this Sunday at the Central Livestock Laboratory (LABOCEL), under the supervision of the National Coordination Commission for the Fight against Drugs (CNCLD).

More than 319 kilogrammes of cocaine eliminated

In total, 280 bricks of cocaine, weighing 319.745 kilogrammes, were destroyed. This massive quantity came from two major seizures: 47 bricks intercepted in Gaya, Dosso region, on 29 september 2025, and 233 bricks seized in Zinder on 19 may 2026.

Before the incineration, agents from the Directorate of Technical and Scientific Police (DPTS) analysed a sample. Tests confirmed it was cocaine in hydrochloride form (HCL).

Destruction follows international narcotics management standards

Speaking at the event, CNCLD president Mai Moussa Elhadji Bashir stressed that this operation meets international requirements for handling confiscated narcotics. He noted that authorities must destroy seized drugs within reasonable timeframes to avoid storage risks, even as judicial proceedings can take years.

Judicial and security authorities mobilised

Minister of Justice Alio Daouda presided over the ceremony, witnessing each phase of the drug destruction alongside several senior judicial and security officials. Also present were the Public Prosecutor at the Niamey High Court, the Director of the Central Office for the Repression of Illicit Drug Trafficking (OCRTIS), the Director General of LABOCEL, and representatives from defence and security forces.

In summary, this destruction of over three hundred kilogrammes of cocaine underscores Nigerien authorities’ resolve to intensify the fight against drug trafficking networks — a growing challenge for security and stability in the Sahel region.

By Mariama Hamani — Analyst