Sissili: Twenty-two individuals have been placed under arrest in Ouagadougou as authorities dismantled an extensive network involved in pimping, prostitution, selling illicit products, and money laundering. This network operated via WhatsApp and a restaurant located in the Burkinabe capital, as announced by the prosecutor of Faso.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the investigation into the network began on June 7, initially conducted by the police station of the 5th arrondissement of Ouagadougou. A statement from the prosecutor at the Ouaga II High Court, Lafama Prosper Thiombiano, detailed the uncovering of multiple WhatsApp groups and a restaurant used to facilitate these alleged criminal activities.
The magistrate revealed that the administrators of these online groups acted as intermediaries, charging fees to arrange sexual encounters between men and women. Additionally, these encrypted platforms were used to sell illicit products. The involved restaurant functioned as a physical front, where customers were required to purchase meals of a minimum amount to gain access to women and girls.
To lure clients, explicit images were distributed on social media by the accused. A notable aspect of the investigation was that some detained individuals were participants in over two hundred WhatsApp groups dedicated to these illicit activities.
As of now, the 22 individuals face charges of solicitation, pimping, selling illicit products, and money laundering. They were detained following flagrant offenses and are scheduled to appear before the Criminal Court on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
The restaurant linked to the network has been placed under administrative seal, and significant assets have been seized by authorities. The prosecutor highlighted that two prior similar investigations by the police stations of the 5th and 10th arrondissements had already led to convictions.
In response to the persistence and escalation of these activities, the prosecutor's office announced its intention to apply the utmost firmness in future actions.