TLTP
\nLYON
\nInterpol and the UN have arrested several suspected terrorists, retrieved more than 40,000 sticks of dynamite and detonator cords for illegal gold mining, the latest source of illicit funding for armed groups in Africa\u2019s Sahel region.
\nThe seven-day Operation KAFO II, jointly coordinated by Interpol and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), targeted trafficking networks at airports, seaports and land borders in Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Mali and Niger.
\nMore than 260 officers from police, customs and other national services in the four countries, participated in the operation, which was conducted from November 30 to December 6.
\nOfficials seized scores of guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition, after checking more than 12,000 individuals, vehicles, containers and goods against international criminal databases, and carrying out physical searches.
\nThey also found nearly 1,500 kilograms of cannabis and the plant-based stimulant drug khat; some 60,000 litres of contraband fuel, and more than 2,000 boxes of contraband medical drugs.
\n\u201cTrafficking in firearms is a lucrative business which, in turn, fuels and funds other types of serious crimes,\u201d Interpol Secretary-General Jurgen Stock said.
\n\u201cOperation KAFO II shows the need to connect the dots between crime cases involving firearms and terrorists across different countries.\u201d
\nUNODC and Interpol said the dynamite and detonator cords were destined for use in illegal gold mining: a new source of financing but also a potential recruiting ground for armed groups operating in the Sahel.
\nThe two agencies said that the seizure of large quantities of contraband gasoline in Niger and Mali represented a new trend, as it is believed the fuel came from Nigeria and was being trafficked to both finance and supply the terrorist group Al-Qaeda and its affiliates.
\nThe officials seized hand sanitiser, gel containers, gloves and drugs during the operation, indicating the black market for these items is flourishing amid the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TLTP LYON Interpol and the UN have arrested several suspected terrorists, retrieved more than 40,000 sticks of dynamite and detonator cords for illegal gold mining, the latest source of illicit funding for armed groups in Africa\u2019s Sahel region. The seven-day Operation KAFO II, jointly coordinated by Interpol and the United Nations Office on Drugs and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-163783","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n