In a spectacular operation worthy of the best thrillers, the Criminal Investigation Division (DIC) dismantled a network of counterfeiters whose counterfeiting activities extended well beyond the Senegalese borders. This group, led locally by Seydina Niang, was surprised with a veritable arsenal of counterfeit banknote manufacturing. The catch? No less than 40,000 dollars in counterfeit money, equivalent to more than 25.4 million FCFA. But behind these black notes hides an organization with international ramifications, even reaching South Korea.
A network of amateurs serving an international mafia
The operation begins with precise information on a group of counterfeiters operating in Yeumbeul. DIC investigators quickly discovered a network that was still in its infancy but supported by much more experienced figures. At its head locally, Seydina Niang, an ambitious novice who, according to L’Observateur, was entrusted by a man called Cheikh, based in South Korea, with the responsibility of producing and packaging counterfeit US dollar notes.
Cheikh, presented as the brains behind the operation, would have provided the necessary equipment through his brother, a certain Jily, to allow the Senegalese network to begin its activities. The project involved creating counterfeit currencies intended to supply the local and, potentially, international black market.
The trap closes in Yeumbeul
On January 3, while the network was planning a decisive meeting in Yeumbeul, investigators from the Research and Intervention Group (GRI), a specialized unit of the DIC, tightened the noose.
It all started when Seydina Niang sought help from Abdou K. Mbaye, responsible for supervising the packaging of the tickets. The latter contacted a supposed counterfeiting expert and set up a meeting in Yeumbeul. Unaware that they are under close surveillance, Seydina Niang and her accomplices, including the driver S. Dieng, go there. They give a sample of black notes to Kh. Diome and F. Guèye, presented as experts capable of validating their authenticity.
The “experts”, after careful analysis, judge the tickets to be acceptable and give the green light to continue the operation. But what they don’t know is that every movement, every discussion, and every transaction is observed by plainclothes GRI police officers.
The spectacular arrest: a mafia trapped
At the end of the operation, the gang leaves Yeumbeul aboard a gleaming Jeep Cherokee, convinced of having taken a decisive step in their plan. But their euphoria will be short-lived. The investigators intercept the vehicle in full traffic, putting a definitive end to their ambitions.
During the search, the police discovered a bag containing an impressive block of black notes representing a sum of 40,000 dollars. The suspects were immediately taken into custody.
Faced with overwhelming evidence, Seydina Niang admits her role but is quick to reveal compromising details about her partners. He points the finger at Cheikh, the real brains of the operation, and explains that this mission was a trial attempt intended to test the market.
An international organization with worrying ramifications
The investigation reveals that this operation, although clumsy in its implementation, was the reflection of a larger network. South Korea, where Sheikh resides, appears to be the nerve center of this international mafia. The latter, in coordination with its local relays, would have orchestrated the delivery of counterfeiting tools and remotely supervised the first stages of the project.
But the arrest of Seydina Niang and her accomplices marks a halt for this network, highlighting the limits of an organization which, although ambitious, lacked experience in the field.
An explosive case before the courts
The six arrested members were presented to the prosecution of the Pikine-Guédiawaye High Court, where they face heavy charges: counterfeiting of monetary signs, criminal conspiracy, and attempted money laundering.
According to L’Observateur, this dismantling highlights the rise of counterfeiting networks in the country, often supported by international actors. The vigilance of the police, however, made it possible to prevent the flooding of the Senegalese market with counterfeit currencies, thus protecting the national economy from a potential disaster.
Lessons to be learned: between fake notes and real threats
If this raid is a victory for the DIC, it also highlights the growing ingenuity of criminal networks, even amateurs. The link established between Yeumbeul and South Korea reveals that Senegal is not safe from international mafias who exploit local relays to operate discreetly.
The dismantling of this network, as reported by L’Observateur, sends a strong message: faced with the rise of new forms of crime, the Senegalese authorities remain resolutely on alert.
