Benin announces seizure of 54kg of cocaine from Brazil

Security forces in Benin have confirmed the seizure of 54 kilogrammes of cocaine from Brazil. The consignment was contained in a container that had arrived at its main port of Cotonou, the public prosecutor said on Tuesday.

“There was a sack containing 48 pellets of a suspect product,” which was seized on Monday, Lawani Badirou told a news conference. “Tests revealed that this was cocaine.”

The West African coast has for over a decade been a transit point for Latin American cocaine en route to Europe, although improved maritime policing in recent years has helped reduce the volume passing through the region.

This becomes the second drug bust in Benin in under a month. In late October, maritime police discovered a haul of 18 kg of cocaine, also at Cotonou.

That shipment was found in a container belonging to one of the companies of wealthy businessman and prominent politician Sebastien Ajavon. A court, however, this month dropped all drug trafficking charges against Ajavon for lack of proof.