By Milcah Tanimu
Interpol has confirmed the arrest of 45 individuals in West Africa in the last three months. These arrests were part of operations aimed at curbing drug trafficking and the financing of terrorism. Among those arrested was a suspected Islamic State (ISIS) member found at the borders between Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, as well as a North African man attempting to join ISIS in Syria.
The operations also led to significant drug seizures, including over $50 million worth of cocaine in Cabo Verde and 10 tonnes of amphetamines in Burkina Faso. Interpol, headquartered in France, is continuing efforts to combat these critical security issues across the continent.