Banfora:The Banfora central police station has successfully seized a truck carrying fifteen tons of fraudulently imported rice and intercepted seven minors suspected of being victims of trafficking during two operations on October 14 and 15, 2026. The announcement was made by Central Commissioner Djakalia Ouattara at a press briefing on the afternoon of Monday, October 19.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the first operation took place on October 14, 2026, at around 2 p.m. Police officers at the Bounouna checkpoint on the Banfora-SidEradougou road stopped a truck coming from Niangoloko and heading to a village in the commune of TiEfora. The truck driver was unable to provide documentation justifying the rice's importation, leading to the seizure of the vehicle and its cargo for further checks.

Investigations revealed that the rice, valued at approximately six million CFA francs, was smuggled from a neighboring country. It was transported by tricycle along unofficial tracks to Niangoloko before being loaded onto trucks for domestic distribution. The seized rice will be handed over to customs services for further processing.

In a separate operation on October 15, agents at the Nafona checkpoint on the Banfora-Bobo-Dioulasso axis intercepted seven minors coming from Bobo-Dioulasso around 930 p.m., suspected to be in a trafficking situation. The children were initially taken to the police station and then handed over to the Tannounyan Regional Brigade for Child Protection for care and further investigation.

Commissioner Djakalia Ouattara emphasized that these operations reflect the police's commitment to combating fraudulent networks impacting the national economy and protecting vulnerable individuals, especially children. He encouraged public vigilance and cooperation by reporting any suspicious activities.