Published on : 21/04/2022 – 04:08
In September 2021, the prosecutor opened an investigation against dozens of people suspected of smuggling, corruption, money laundering and terrorist financing. Last December, several people found guilty received prison sentences of several billion CFA francs in fines.
With our correspondent in Ouagadougou, Yaya Boudani
In all, fourteen people are involved in this second part of the fuel smuggling investigation. These are customs officers, gendarmes and police officers who served in posts such as Fada N’Gourma in the East region and in Tenkodogo, in the Center East. After the investigations, thirteen people were charged, mostly customs officers, gendarmes and police. They are suspected of corruption ” active or passive and illicit enrichment for letting traffickers pass. ” They did not arrest the smugglers so they are prosecuted for complicity in the acts alleged against the traders “, according to a judicial source. Seven people are under arrest warrant. They are five customs officers, a gendarme and a trader. They were transferred to the Ouagadougou remand and correction center. The others, gendarmes, customs officers and policemen remain prosecuted but they will appear free.
In September 2021, an investigation relating to the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism, made it possible to arrest several people who smuggled fuel in certain regions of Burkina Faso where armed terrorist groups are active. . Following the trial, forty people were sentenced to 6 to 15 months in prison with a fine of more than 9 billion CFA francs.