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.

There was a sack containing 48 pellets of a suspect product. Tests revealed that this was cocaine.

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.