Interpol, UNODC Intercept Nigeria’s Gasoline Meant For Al-Qaeda

The INTERPOL has burst a syndicate terrorist supply of gasoline
in the West Africa and Sahel regions of Africa, according to the
United Nations
Report^[1]

The terrorist operation which was disrupted by the International
Security Network— INTERPOL, was done in partnership with the United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) transactional
operation.

Nairalaws gathered that part of the item recovered from
the operation includes a large quantity of gasoline believed to has
originated from Nigeria and meant for the Al-Qaeda terrorist group,
were seized at both Niger and Mali.

It is equally noteworthy that sometime in early December, 2020,
both agencies had seized multiple illegal firearms, ammunition, and
explosives during one of its operation, codename KAFO II, carried
out in Burkina Faso, Côte d’ivoire, Mali and Niger, although the
origin of those items have not yet been confirmed.

Other successes the KAFO II operation recorded was the
distrusting of firearm trafficking network in the region.

The KAFO II operation which focuses included the disruption of
the flow of illicit goods meant for terrorist financing and
criminality in the region, saw the operation conducting an
inspection of over twelve thousand (12,000) persons, vehicles,
containers as well as cargos, in the criminal database of the
agency.

The operation Also conducted field research on the
aforementioned in other to determine if the travel pass or vehicles
used by those investigated were authentic or stolen for the purpose
of encouraging illegality and criminality in the region.

“Among the new trends observed during this second edition of
Operation KAFO is the seizure of contraband gasoline in large
quantities in Niger and Mali. It would appear that the gasoline
originated in Nigeria and was trafficked to finance and supply the
Al Qaeda terrorist group and its affiliates,”

“In addition to the arrest of a number of suspected terrorists,
police seized firearms and a host of illicit goods such as 50
firearms, 40,593 sticks of dynamite, 28 detonator cords, 6,162
rounds of ammunition, 1,473 kilos of drugs (cannabis and khat),
2,263 boxes of contraband drugs and 60,000 litres of contraband
fuel,”

“In addition to the arrest of a number of suspected terrorists,
police seized firearms and a host of illicit goods such as 50
firearms, 40,593 sticks of dynamite, 28 detonator cords, 6,162
rounds of ammunition, 1,473 kilos of drugs (cannabis and khat),
2,263 boxes of contraband drugs and 60,000 litres of contraband
fuel,” the report from the Agency noted.

It’s noteworthy that due to the rise of criminality and
international terrorism in the region, trafficking in firearms have
become a lucrative business in the region. A successful trafficking
of firearms has the propensity to fuel and finance other forms of
illegality and criminality. According to the Secretary-General of
INTERPOL, Jürgen Stock , “The fight against the illicit trafficking
of firearms requires strong international and inter-agency
cooperation, in order to identify the source of these weapons and
bring the perpetrators to justice,” said Ghada Waly, the Executive
Director of UNODC.

“In addition, more than 40,000 sticks of dynamite and detonators
were seized in several locations, all intended for illegal gold
mining which constitutes a new source of funding, and even a
recruiting ground, for armed terrorist groups in the Sahel.” [As
quoted in an article titled “UN and Interpol tackle arms
trafficking in West Africa and the Sahel”.]

The INTERPOL has burst a syndicate terrorist supply of gasoline
in the West Africa and Sahel regions of Africa, according to the
United Nations
Report^[1]

The terrorist operation which was disrupted by the International
Security Network— INTERPOL, was done in partnership with the United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) transactional
operation.

Nairalaws gathered that part of the item recovered from
the operation includes a large quantity of gasoline believed to has
originated from Nigeria and meant for the Al-Qaeda terrorist group,
were seized at both Niger and Mali.

It is equally noteworthy that sometime in early December, 2020,
both agencies had seized multiple illegal firearms, ammunition, and
explosives during one of its operation, codename KAFO II, carried
out in Burkina Faso, Côte d’ivoire, Mali and Niger, although the
origin of those items have not yet been confirmed.

Other successes the KAFO II operation recorded was the
distrusting of firearm trafficking network in the region.

The KAFO II operation which focuses included the disruption of
the flow of illicit goods meant for terrorist financing and
criminality in the region, saw the operation conducting an
inspection of over twelve thousand (12,000) persons, vehicles,
containers as well as cargos, in the criminal database of the
agency.

The operation Also conducted field research on the
aforementioned in other to determine if the travel pass or vehicles
used by those investigated were authentic or stolen for the purpose
of encouraging illegality and criminality in the region.

“Among the new trends observed during this second edition of
Operation KAFO is the seizure of contraband gasoline in large
quantities in Niger and Mali. It would appear that the gasoline
originated in Nigeria and was trafficked to finance and supply the
Al Qaeda terrorist group and its affiliates,”

“In addition to the arrest of a number of suspected terrorists,
police seized firearms and a host of illicit goods such as 50
firearms, 40,593 sticks of dynamite, 28 detonator cords, 6,162
rounds of ammunition, 1,473 kilos of drugs (cannabis and khat),
2,263 boxes of contraband drugs and 60,000 litres of contraband
fuel,”

“In addition to the arrest of a number of suspected terrorists,
police seized firearms and a host of illicit goods such as 50
firearms, 40,593 sticks of dynamite, 28 detonator cords, 6,162
rounds of ammunition, 1,473 kilos of drugs (cannabis and khat),
2,263 boxes of contraband drugs and 60,000 litres of contraband
fuel,” the report from the Agency noted.

It’s noteworthy that due to the rise of criminality and
international terrorism in the region, trafficking in firearms have
become a lucrative business in the region. A successful trafficking
of firearms has the propensity to fuel and finance other forms of
illegality and criminality. According to the Secretary-General of
INTERPOL, Jürgen Stock , “The fight against the illicit trafficking
of firearms requires strong international and inter-agency
cooperation, in order to identify the source of these weapons and
bring the perpetrators to justice,” said Ghada Waly, the Executive
Director of UNODC.

“In addition, more than 40,000 sticks of dynamite and detonators
were seized in several locations, all intended for illegal gold
mining which constitutes a new source of funding, and even a
recruiting ground, for armed terrorist groups in the Sahel.” [As
quoted in an article titled “UN and Interpol tackle arms
trafficking in West Africa and the Sahel”.]