Bénin intensifies fight against transnational crime with major arrests
In a decisive move to dismantle criminal networks and track down international runaways, the Republican Police of Bénin has significantly increased its border operations. The mission is to ensure that the country does not become a safe haven for those fleeing justice. Between April 13 and April 19, 2026, BCN-INTERPOL Cotonou executed a series of coordinated strikes resulting in the capture of three high-profile fugitives.
Apprehension of a Nigerian murder suspect
On April 15, authorities located a Nigérian national hiding in a hotel in Cotonou. The individual was wanted by his home country for his alleged involvement in several assassinations carried out in Lagos throughout 2023 and 2024. His flight from justice had been widely reported by the Lagos State Police before he was finally cornered in Bénin.
Fraud suspect caught at the airport
That same day, another operation took place at the Bernardin Gantin International Airport. A suspect sought by authorities in the United States for a large-scale fraud scheme was intercepted upon arrival. He had recently fled the United States in an attempt to evade legal consequences before being stopped by Béninois officers.
French national using false identities unmasked
The operations continued on April 19, 2026, with the arrest of a French citizen in Cotonou. This individual was allegedly involved in transnational organized crime and had managed to evade detection by using several aliases. However, after weeks of discreet and persistent surveillance by specialized units of the Republican Police, his true identity was revealed, and he was taken into custody.
Commitment to international police cooperation
Following the arrests, the Nigérian fugitive was handed over to the authorities of his country under the ECOWAS criminal police cooperation agreement. Extradition procedures for the other two suspects are currently being processed. Through these targeted actions, the Republican Police reaffirms its dedication to battling global crime and its refusal to allow Bénin to serve as a sanctuary for international criminals.