The Senegalese Customs has reported the seizure of several boxes of fake medicines worth an estimated 1.15 billion CFA francs (1.7 million euros) in the Thiaroye area, the suburbs of Dakar.

According to a statement from the commercial brigade of Keur Ayip (Centre), officers discovered “four parcels of Indian hemp, weighing a total of 400kg, for an estimated value of 48 million CFA francs, 4,000 tablets tested positive for morphine, estimated at 51 million CFA francs, and fake drugs worth 6.8 million CFA francs.”

The document added that the seizure took place “between Touba Saloum and Darou Salam Nioro in the forest of Keur Madiabel.”

The anti-drug brigade of Thies (GPRRF) also confiscated prohibited products on the night of 24-25 May in Thiaroye-Guédj, leading to the arrest of two individuals.

The special unit of the Senegalese Customs made “a seizure of 280kg of Indian hemp of the Brown species in Sandiara (West). The product was packaged in 13 bales containing 152 bundles with a value of 41.4 million CFA francs.

“The control of the parcels revealed large quantities of medicines whose packaging and humidity leave no doubt that the goods had first been transported by sea,” added the customs authorities.

Among the fake medicines were analgesics, antacids, anti-inflammatories, anti-diarrhoeal, antibiotics, antimalarials, anti-fungal drugs, anti-anaemics and aphrodisiacs. “The investigation is ongoing,” the statement said.