In November 2024, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) facilitated Operation KAFO V in West and Central Africa, leading to the seizure of thousands of firearms, ammunition and components linked to Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
Building on its past successes, Operation KAFO’s fifth edition targeted six countries, four of which are in the Sahel sub region: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Niger, as well as two coastal countries: Benin and, for the first time, Ghana.
From 4 to 11 November 2024, the operation mobilized over 500 law enforcement agents and criminal justice practitioners from the six countries, including representatives from the police, customs, gendarmerie, intelligence services and justice sectors; traditional leaders; civil society organizations and INTERPOL National Central Bureaus, to cover 24 strategic areas like border crossings, ports and airports. A post-operational phase aimed to develop further operational actions based on the intelligence gathered during the operation.
UNODC supported international coordination and information exchange, capacity building activities and overall logistics of the operation.
The operation led to the seizure of more than 400 firearms (including more than 250 rifles, parts, and components) in addition to more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition. Given the ongoing security trends in the sub region, Operation KAFO V had a particular focus on explosives and materials that could be used to develop IEDs. As part of these efforts, more than 10,000 dynamite sticks and 5,200 meters of detonating chords were seized, along with at least a dozen light weapon and conventional arms munitions. Seizures also included communication devices and drones.
Investigations are ongoing on the links between these seizures, organized crime and terrorism in the sub region.
In addition, significant quantities of drugs, including cocaine, heroin, and cannabis—with an estimated value of more than 10 million USD—were seized, along with nearly 2 million units of various counterfeit medicines, pharmaceutical opioids such as tramadol, and adulterated alcohol. Other notable seizures included hundreds of vehicles (29 of which were reported stolen), cigarettes, and close to 500,000 USD in undeclared currency. Additionally, more than 26,000 liters of gasoil and oil were confiscated.
KAFO V resulted in the arrest of 75 individuals for firearms-related offenses, drug trafficking, and other crimes, including links to terrorist organizations. UNODC will provide targeted support for the investigation and prosecution of cases, particularly in the facilitation of international cooperation on joint investigations.
The Operation also provided an opportunity to carry out patrols, set up mobile check points and conduct searches based on prior intelligence. Over the course of the operation, more than 170,000 physical verifications were conducted, along with over 15,000 checks in INTERPOL databases, including its firearms database, "iARMS," for seized, lost and stolen firearms.
The poly-criminal, evolving and transnational nature of firearms-related crime in the region have once again been brought to light through this operation. It has also underscored the prevalence of certain types of cross-border trafficking, including drugs, counterfeit medicines, and pharmaceutical opioids like tramadol, alongside liquid assets, that can contribute to the financing of terrorism. To effectively address these challenges, enhanced cooperation among the countries of the sub-region and the cost remains essential.
UNODC supported the work behind several months of coordination and pre-operational capacity-building activities at the regional and national levels for this initiative. National level training in each country provided almost 400 field personnel with the expertise needed to strengthen their capabilities in detecting, investigating and prosecuting firearms-related offenses.
The successful execution of Operation KAFO V was made possible with the generous support of Germany and Japan.
