Ouagadougou: Three people were arrested and brought before the Di©bougou prosecutor's office in a suspected case of aggravated fraud involving the sale of counterfeit mercury. The prosecutor of Faso at the Di©bougou High Court, Idrissa Sebgo, presented the initial findings of the case on Friday, August 28, 2026, during a press conference.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the case was triggered following a complaint from a victim who allegedly paid 17 million CFA francs for the acquisition of a cylinder presented as containing genuine mercury.
The investigations, conducted by the Research Brigade of the central police station of Dano, in synergy with the Prosecutor General's Offices of the Courts of Appeal of Bobo-Dioulasso and Ouagadougou, the prosecutors' offices near the High Courts of Di©bougou and Ouaga I, as well as the Regional Judicial Police Services (SRPJ) of Kadiogo and Dj´r´, have made it possible to uncover a suspected network specializing in aggravated fraud.
According to the initial findings of the investigation, the accused allegedly offered their victims canisters containing, according to them, genuine mercury, at prices ranging from 15 to 20 million CFA francs per unit.
However, checks carried out revealed that the product presented as mercury was actually molten copper packaged in an empty cylinder, the prosecutor stated.
Following the investigation, three people were arrested and taken into custody. They were then brought before the Di©bougou prosecutor's office on August 25, 2026, to answer for the charges against them.
Investigators also seized the canister containing the product presented as mercury, as well as a Lexus luxury vehicle and two scooter-type mopeds.
The prosecutor of Burkina Faso indicated that the accused are being prosecuted for aggravated fraud, in accordance with the provisions of Article 613-2 of the penal code, which specifies that when fraud is committed by an organized group, the penalty is 7 to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of 5,000,000 to 30,000,000 CFA francs, as in this case. He nevertheless reminded the public that the accused benefit from the presumption of innocence until their final conviction by a competent court.
The prosecutor's office is continuing its investigations to determine the extent of the network, to identify any accomplices or instigators, and to trace the origin of the product as well as the destination of the funds from the alleged fraudulent transactions.
The prosecutor invited anyone who may have been a victim of similar acts to contact the relevant services to file a complaint and contribute to establishing the truth.
This case once again highlights the risks of fraud to which those involved in the mining sector can be exposed. The public prosecutor's office therefore urges vigilance and recommends verifying the authenticity and legality of products offered before any transaction.