Burkina Faso’s customs authorities carried out a major anti-smuggling operation on April 13 and 14, resulting in the seizure of 20,690 packages of prohibited goods, the General Directorate of Customs announced in a statement on Thursday.
The total value of the confiscated merchandise is estimated at over 221 million CFA francs—approximately $380,000. The sweep also led to the impounding of 176 vehicles found in violation of customs regulations.
Among the most striking finds were:
- 400 vials of amphetamines
- 49 packets of narcotics
- 2.5 kg of Indian hemp
- 3,195 sticks of dynamite
- 77 detonators
- 1,000 chameleon carcasses
- 700 hedgehog carcasses
This special operation is part of ongoing national efforts to combat smuggling, drug trafficking, and the illegal trade in protected species—an increasingly urgent concern for both public safety and biodiversity preservation.