Cocaine hidden in second-hand clothes seized in Niger’s Zinder city

On Friday 5 June 2026, the regional branch of the Central Office for the Repression of Illicit Drug Trafficking (OCRTIS) in Zinder dismantled a transnational network, seizing 920 grammes of cocaine cleverly concealed inside bales of second-hand clothing. Two suspects—a Nigerien national and a Beninese national—were arrested in the Djaguindi district. The operation reveals the growing sophistication of traffickers who exploit the Lomé-Niamey-Lagos corridor.

The seizure underscores the complexity of drug trafficking networks active in West Africa. Acting on a reliable tip from local residents, investigators successfully dismantled the network and made the arrests in the heart of the regional capital.

The profiles of the two individuals highlight the cross-border nature of the trade: the first is a Nigerien residing in Zinder, while the second is a Beninese national merely passing through the city. Together, they exemplify the fluid networks that mobilise local actors and foreign intermediaries along West African trade routes.

The trafficking route: the ‘Bocho’ trick

The drugs were hidden inside bales of second-hand clothing—locally known as ‘Bocho’—originating from Lomé, Togo. These goods, whose heavy commercial flow provides perfect camouflage, transited through Niamey before reaching their final destination in Nigeria.

The modus operandi revealed by the investigation illustrates a well-documented trend: the use of large-scale legal trade flows to conceal narcotics. Bocho bales serve as a massive import-export vector between Togo, Niger, and Nigeria, making them a highly effective camouflage for traffickers.

“The National Police is your security and that of your property.” — Official message from the OCRTIS Niger, National Police.

Beyond the seizure itself, this operation highlights the crucial role of the population in the fight against drugs. The OCRTIS publicly thanked the residents of Zinder for their cooperation, whose tip enabled the intervention. In the tense security context of the Sahel, maintaining trust between law enforcement and communities is a strategic priority to curb trafficking that weakens local economies and fuels organised crime.

Call for citizen vigilance

Finally, the OCRTIS urges the public to remain vigilant against the activities of trafficking networks. To report any confidential information, the National Police provides free hotlines: 8383 and 17.