Barikissou Olaoff, a Beninese trader and mother of four children, faces a sentence of 10 years in prison. At the helm of the Tambacounda criminal chamber, she is accused of international drug trafficking and smuggling. According to L'Observateur, the case, which is causing a lot of noise, is under deliberation until January 24, leaving doubt about its fate.
A spectacular seizure in Kidira
The facts date back to November 26, 2023, when Barikissou Olaoff was arrested by customs officers from the Kidira commercial brigade. The latter, during a routine check on a coach registered AT 3842 M7from Mali, discovered 75,000 tablets hidden in a rear side trunk. The merchandise, with an estimated market value of 295 million FCFA, was packaged in boxes and bags without labels.
Overwhelming analyzes
A rapid test on a sample of the tablets, carried out by the national drug analysis laboratory in Dakar, revealed the presence of banned substances. According to the spectrometer FTIR IS 50the tablets contained:
• 36.87% opium powdera Tier 2 narcotic,
• 13.56% morphine hydrochloridea prohibited product classified as a Tier 3 narcotic.
These results immediately reinforced suspicions against the trader, who was taken into police custody.
Changing justifications
On the stand, Barikissou Olaoff maintained that she was unaware of the composition of the tablets. She claims that they are dewormers called “Quintex”, purchased in Cotonou and intended to be resold in Dakar. She puts forward a purchase price oscillating between 700 and 1,000 FCFA per tablet, which she would resell at 5,000 FCFA.
However, during the investigation, inconsistencies in his statements sowed doubt. She initially claimed the tablets were medicine for constipation and worms. A later body search revealed that some of the tablets were concealed under his clothing and in a body cavity.
The defense pleads for acquittal.
For the defense lawyers, Me Bâ and Me Ciss, the case lacks solid evidence. According to them, no irrefutable evidence establishes that their client was aware of the illicit nature of the products she was transporting. They maintain that Barikissou is a simple trader and not a trafficker.
A severe indictment
For his part, prosecutor Aliou Dia requested a sentence of 10 years of criminal imprisonment for international drug trafficking, affirming that the material evidence is sufficient to demonstrate the guilt of the accused.
An expected decision
The case is now under deliberation until January 24. For Barikissou Olaoff, the coming weeks will be crucial. If the court follows the prosecution's indictment, this trader, who proclaims her innocence, could see her life turned upside down.
An emblematic case
As L'Observateur points out, this file illustrates the complexity of the fight against drug trafficking in West Africa, where porous borders and transnational networks complicate the work of the authorities. But it also raises the question of the presumption of innocence in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence.
The verdict in this case could mark a turning point in local jurisprudence regarding international drug trafficking.
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