Security authorities in Niger have arrested 331 people, including 27 minors, in a major anti-drug operation targeting illicit trafficking and consumption networks in the capital, Niamey.
The operation, code-named Tankadé, meaning “to sift” in the Zarma language, was conducted from Saturday night into Sunday by the Central Office for the Suppression of Illicit Drug Trafficking (OCRTIS), in collaboration with other security agencies under the Niamey Regional Security Council.
Authorities said the operation targeted both established and emerging drug networks, particularly dealers operating in areas known for the sale and consumption of illicit substances.
The crackdown covered all five municipal districts of Niamey, as well as areas along the banks of the Niger River. Security personnel also screened commercial drivers and other road users for drug use.
Of the 182 drivers tested, 25, representing 13.73 per cent, tested positive for psychoactive substances.
The substances detected included cannabis, tramadol, ecstasy, methamphetamine, morphine and amphetamine. Those screened included drivers of minibuses, trucks, taxis, buses and tricycles.
Of the 331 people arrested, 291 were men, 13 were women and 27 were minors.
OCRTIS took custody of 49 suspects, including one woman and three minors, over alleged drug-related offences. Another 257 suspects, comprising 14 women and 22 minors, were transferred to other investigative units for offences falling within their jurisdiction.
Security forces also seized suspected illicit drugs and other items during the operation.
The seizures included 10,500 benzhexol tablets, 532 tramadol tablets, five 40-gram balls of suspected narcotics, 11 packets of suspected cannabis and four cannabis joints. Seventeen motorcycles were also impounded.
Authorities described the operation as part of a broader strategy to combat drug trafficking and consumption through targeted raids, intelligence-led interventions and systematic screening of road users.
The crackdown comes amid growing concern over drug-related activities in Niger.
According to OCRTIS’s first-half 2026 activity report, security agencies across the country arrested 5,257 people over suspected drug-related activities during the period.
The Niamey region recorded the highest number of arrests, with 1,202 suspects, representing 22.86 per cent of the national total.
The figures have prompted OCRTIS to intensify its anti-drug strategy, with greater emphasis on intelligence-led operations and drug testing among road transport operators.
Authorities said the measures were necessary to curb the spread of illicit drug networks, particularly in urban areas where trafficking and consumption could intersect with other forms of organised crime.
