Ivory Coast: Cameroonian arrested in alleged “black banknote” scam

A 29-year-old Cameroonian identified as T.I. was arrested on October 14, 2026, in Cocody Angré, Abidjan, over an alleged “black banknote” scam. He reportedly told a 44-year-old merchant that he had US dollars coated in black powder and demanded 7 million CFA francs for a product supposedly needed to clean the notes. The merchant alerted police instead of paying; a search led to the seizure of a safe, 47 bundles of blackened paper, and three $100 bills. Ivorian media reported that the suspect admitted the allegations, and deputy prosecutor Abou Chérif ordered that he be brought before the prosecutor’s office.