Burkina Faso: Nearly 11 Billion CFA Francs’ Worth of Illicit Goods Seized in Three Months

From July 10 to October 15, 2026, Burkina Faso’s customs services seized illicit goods worth 10.86 billion CFA francs during Operation Maya. The haul included 4,234,935 tapentadol tablets valued at more than 8.3 billion CFA francs and counterfeit medicines worth about 1.1 billion. Officers also intercepted more than 533 tonnes of fertilizer, nearly 490 tonnes of rice, narcotics, chemicals and explosives. Customs director general Dr. Yves Kafando reaffirmed the agency’s determination to combat smuggling and the risks it poses to public health and safety.