Operation Screen West Africa 2025 (July – October) brought together law enforcement agencies from 12 West African countries to strengthen border security, track persons with links to terrorism and disrupt transnational organized crime networks, Interpol said in a statement. Frontline officers at land, air and sea borders used Interpol Mobile Devices and other systems to access the Organization’s extensive global databases, carrying out a total of 1.7 million real-time checks, up from 1.3 million in 2024.

In all, Operation Screen West Africa 2025 led to nine arrests of individuals suspected of connections with terrorism. It also generated almost 250 “hits” against Interpol databases, including seven linked to Red Notices and nine linked to Blue Notices citing terrorist activities.

Among the operation’s most notable successes were the arrests in Burkina Faso of two individuals wanted by law enforcement authorities, and subject to Blue Notices issued by Côte d’Ivoire, who were involved in terrorist attacks by Al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist group JNIM that killed more than ten security personnel in Côte d’Ivoire in 2020.

Notably, Blue Notices are requests between Interpol member countries to collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities, in relation to a criminal investigation. These arrests will allow law enforcement officers to further investigate the deadly attack.

Officers in Burkina Faso also arrested a third individual known to have connections to terrorism, who was also the subject of a Blue Notice issued by Togo in 2024 during FIRST (Facial, Imaging, Recognition, Searching and Tracking), another Interpol operation that took place in West Africa focusing on identifying suspected terrorists and requesting follow-up Blue Notices.

In Mauritania, six individuals were arrested over suspected links to a terrorist attack. Mauritania requested the publication of Blue Notices seeking more information on these suspects.

“These cases highlight how the operational support we offer member countries and our unique specialist tools can make the links that identify suspected terrorists and disrupt their attempts to create fear and endanger communities. We are determined to counter these threats and constantly work with our member countries to strengthen global security,” said Cyril Gout, acting Interpol Executive Director Police Services.

Officers in Ghana were also able to free 21 victims of human trafficking who had been held in Nigeria and exploited in connection with fraudulent schemes.

The operation also included checks at harbours and in territorial waters. Interpol said it alerted participating countries about vessels using deceptive shipping practices, such as identity tampering, so-called dark operations, where ships deliberately switch off their identification systems, and frequent flag changes, or “flag hopping”.

Operational seizures included:

17 caches of weapons and ammunition
Explosives, including dynamite and detonators
136 stolen vehicles
731 kg of cannabis
Counterfeit medicine including fake branded opioid pain relief tablets
Counterfeit currency and fraudulent documents

The proceeds from many of these items may be used to finance terrorism or fund organised crime activities, Interpol highlighted. It said the 12 participating countries in the operation were Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, the Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

The post West Africa border security operation targets foreign terrorist fighters appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

The 27 October arrest followed from information received regarding an individual who was suspected to be in possession of unlicensed firearms and live ammunitions, the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) said.

Upon arrival with a search warrant at the suspect’s plot, officers found his wife, who alleged that her husband was at work. She was then informed of the reason for the visit and shown the approved search warrant. However, she refused the officers entry whilst dogs on the premises made it difficult for the police to gain access. The SAPS and EMPD K9 units were called to the scene to help contain the dogs. After a few minutes, the suspect arrived and the search commenced in his presence.

While searching, live ammunition was found in a safe upstairs, while in the main bedroom 79 9 mm rounds, two 9 mm magazines and one R5 magazine, were found along with 25 R5 rounds and a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) uniform.

Next to a large safe was a crate containing 12 types of explosives. Inside the locked safe, that the SAPS Technical Support Unit had to drill open, members recovered an R5 rifle, a handgun and a .22 rim fire long rifle inside, along with 684 9 mm rounds, 709 R5 rounds, 22 shotgun rounds, 400 .22 rounds, and 92 R1 rounds. Explosives experts and the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) were contacted to the scene, and all the exhibits were seized.

The suspect was read his rights and was detained at the Heidelberg police station. Facing charges of possession of military uniform, explosives, unlicensed firearms, live ammunition and he is expected to appear before the Magistrate court soon, the EMPD said.

The post Huge cache of explosives, ammunition and guns seized in Heidelberg appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) said it arrested two foreign national men aged 35 and 37 on Tuesday in the Makhado policing area of the Vhembe District of Limpopo. “Members of Vhembe Flying Squad conducted a tactical stop and search on a vehicle, which was traveling along the N1 South a few kilometres outside Makhado town heading towards Polokwane, where they discovered four bags in the boot, containing Super Power 90 Gel Tubes. The officers arrested both the driver and the passenger,” the SAPS said.

The Explosives Unit was called to the scene, confirming that what was found was commercial explosives. The vehicle was also confiscated as part of the ongoing investigation.

The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, commended the officers for their vigilance and swift action in curbing the threat posed by illegal explosives, which could have been used in serious and violent crimes.

The SAPS said further investigation will be conducted to trace the origin and intended destination of the explosives. The suspects are expected to appear before the Makhado Magistrate’s Court on 21 November on a charge of possession of illegal explosives.

The post SAPS seize massive explosives cache appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

Residents in surrounding areas reported they had heard a loud explosion.

ALS Paramedics spokesman Garrith Jamieson said numerous calls of an explosion and robbery was received just after 5:30am.

“Paramedics proceeded in the direction of the incident and waited on the all clear from SAPS before made their way onto the scene.”

“Paramedics arrived on the scene to find that a cash in transit vehicle had been attacked by alleged robbers with apparent explosives used. Paramedics assessed the occupants of the cash vehicle however fortunately they were not injured during the robbery,” he said.

Jamieson said the N2 northbound carriageway would be closed for some time to allow SAPS to investigate this incident/

“I would recommend all motorists to avoid this area at all costs.”

The post Cash-in-transit vehicle attacked with explosives on Durban freeway appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

The pair, aged 32 and 42, were arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning as they entered South Africa at the Beitbridge Border Post.

Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the suspects’ Toyota Quantum with a trailer was stopped and searched.

“Police discovered commercial explosives concealed inside the bags. Members of the Musina Explosive Unit attended the scene and 124 blasting cartridges, and at least 109 safety fuses were confiscated.”

The suspects were expected to appear before Musina Magistrate’s Court on Friday on a charge of smuggling and possession of explosives.

The post Pair arrested for alleged attempt to smuggle commercial explosives from Zimbabwe into SA appeared first on ProtectionWeb.