By Abdullahi Inuwa
A major anti-drug sweep in Niger’s capital, Niamey, has resulted in the arrest of 331 suspects, including 27 minors, as security authorities intensify efforts to dismantle illicit drug networks and curb substance abuse.
The operation, codenamed “Tankadé”, or “Hagaye” in the Zarma language, meaning “to sift,” was conducted from Saturday night into Sunday under the coordination of the Central Office for the Suppression of Illicit Drug Trafficking (OCRTIS).
The crackdown brought together several internal security agencies operating under the Niamey Regional Security Council, with the operation targeting suspected drug dealers, consumers and locations identified as hotspots for illicit drug activities.
Security forces carried out simultaneous raids across all five municipal districts of Niamey, including areas along the banks of the Niger River.
A major focus of the operation was the screening of commercial drivers and other road users for drug consumption.
Authorities said 182 drivers were subjected to drug tests, with 25 testing positive, representing 13.73 per cent of those screened.
The substances detected included cannabis, tramadol, ecstasy, methamphetamine, morphine and amphetamine.
Those screened included drivers of Hiace minibuses, trucks, taxis, buses and tricycles.
The operation produced a total of 331 arrests, comprising 291 men, 13 women and 27 minors.
Of the suspects, 49 people, including one woman and three minors, were transferred to OCRTIS for suspected drug-related offences.
Another 257 suspects, including 14 women and 22 minors, were handed over to other investigative units for offences falling under their respective jurisdictions.
Security personnel also seized a significant quantity of suspected illicit drugs and other items during the operation.
The recoveries included 10,500 benzhexol tablets, five 40-gram balls of suspected narcotics, 11 small packets of suspected cannabis, four cannabis joints and 532 tramadol tablets.
Seventeen motorcycles and other items were also confiscated.
Authorities described the operation as a major step in their continuing campaign against drug trafficking and consumption, particularly in urban areas where criminal networks can exploit transport routes and densely populated communities.
The crackdown comes as Niger records a rising number of drug-related arrests.
According to OCRTIS’ first-half 2026 activity report, security agencies across the country arrested 5,257 people over suspected involvement in drug-related activities during the period.
The Niamey region accounted for 1,202 arrests, representing 22.86 per cent of the national total and making it the highest-ranking region in the country.
The growing figures have prompted OCRTIS to adjust its operational strategy, placing greater emphasis on intelligence-led raids, targeted interventions and systematic drug testing of road transport operators.
The latest crackdown highlights the expanding security challenge posed by illicit drugs in Niger, with authorities increasingly treating drug trafficking and consumption not only as a public health concern but also as a potential driver of wider organised criminal activity.
For security agencies, the message from the Niamey operation is clear: the net is widening, and drug networks operating in the capital are increasingly coming under pressure.
Source;@ZagazolaMakama
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