Ouagadougou: A unit producing and marketing plastic packaging and bags, operating in violation of the law in force in Burkina Faso, has been sealed by the courts, and its Chinese manager has been referred to the Ouagadougou Detention and Correctional Facility (MACO).
According to Burkina Information Agency, a press release received on Saturday outlined that the environmental police conducted an inspection mission on August 6, 2025, which revealed the illegal production of plastic packaging and bags at a factory located in the Kossodo industrial zone. The prosecutor at the Ouaga I High Court, Blaise Bazi©, noted that the production unit was sealed following the discovery of the violations, and the factory's general manager was arrested on August 12, 2025, before being brought to court on August 14, 2025.
The press release detailed that the factory was actively producing and distributing plastic packaging and bags, contravening Law 045-2024/ALT, enacted on December 30, 2024. The law sets forth penalties for the production and importation of such materials, including a prison sentence of 6 months to 5 years and a fine ranging from 5 million to 100 million CFA francs. Additionally, the marketing, storage, and distribution of these items could lead to a prison sentence of 6 months to 3 years and a fine of 5 million to 50 million CFA francs.
The document further explains that under Articles 242-24 to 242-31 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the company was subjected to a public interest judicial agreement. As part of this, it is required to pay the public treasury a fine of 30 million CFA francs, which is six times the minimum penalty stipulated by the law. Additionally, the factory must destroy the seized bags and raw materials and cease operations entirely.
The public prosecutor praised the environmental police for their effective handling of the case and urged the public to report any suspicious activities related to the production, importation, marketing, distribution, or storage of plastic packaging or bags.