Ouagadougou: The coordinator of the National Coordination for the Fight against Fraud (CNLF), Dr. Yves Kafando, presented to the press on Thursday a seizure of 880 bags of cyanide, transferred into ordinary bags stamped as cattle feed, and 18 tons of oilcakes, estimated at 160,480,000 FCFA. “The fraudsters specifically transferred the cyanide into ordinary bags labeled ‘cattle feed.’ To complete their dirty work, they chose to sprinkle the load with a few bags of oilcake. In total, the CNLF seized 880 50-kg bags of cyanide worth 154 million CFA francs and 18 tons of buried oilcake worth 6,480,000 CFA francs,” lamented the coordinator of the national anti-fraud coordination, Dr. Yves Kafando.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the market value of the fraudulent products extracted from commercial channels is estimated at 160,480,000 FCFA. In his opinion, these teams uncovered the ongoing deception on the Bobo-Bama axis on March 4, 2025. He recalled that cyanide is a dangerous chemical product whose import, distribution, and use are strictly regulated by decree ??°2023-1416 ???? 20 ?????????????? 2023.
Article 12 of this text, he continued, states that any import of dangerous chemical products must be subject to a technical opinion from the Ministry responsible for the environment, accompanied by a traceability register and an official declaration from the storage site. The offenders involved in this case did not have any of these documents, thus endangering public safety and the environment, he lamented.
The CNLF recalled that the illegal handling of these substances exposes populations to major health and environmental risks. According to him, in accordance with Article 73 of the decree in force, fraudsters face penalties ranging from the payment of a fine equivalent to double the amount of the required authorizations to the confiscation of the products in question and possible legal proceedings.
The National Coordinator reiterated the importance of collaboration between public authorities, civil society, and populations in the fight against fraud. He called for increased vigilance and the systematic denunciation of fraudulent acts, stressing that this fight is essential to preserve the national economy and the security of citizens. The seizure of this illegal cargo constitutes a significant victory in the fight against fraud and reaffirms the CNLF’s commitment to cleaning up trade channels. The coordination remains mobilized to counter the maneuvers of those who, through greed, endanger the lives of the population and compromise the future of the country, he promised.