The Kaolack research section (SR) thwarted a plan for irregular emigration to Spain. Three suspected organizers were arrested following a multi-day investigation.

According to Seneweb sources close to the prosecutor's office, the gendarmes have arrested Souleye F., Ahmadou Bamba C. and Arfang Bakary D., suspected of having set up a network responsible for organizing clandestine departures by pirogue, commonly known as "Barça" or "Barçakh".

According to the investigation, Ahmadou Bamba C., as well as Souleye F., already intercepted three times on the high seas in Mauritania for attempting irregular emigration, have decided to convert to organizing clandestine trips.

With the complicity of a certain Mboss, who is still on the run, they allegedly created a WhatsApp group called "dm rek inchaAllah" ("leave at all costs, God willing") to coordinate their activities.

Within this group, roles were clearly defined: Ahmadou Bamba C. and Arfang Bakary D. were responsible for recruiting candidates, Souleye F. was tasked with finding the pirogue, while Mboss was in charge of transporting the migrants in waves to the vessel anchored at sea. The suspects planned to organize the departure during Ramadan 2026, hoping to take advantage of a relaxation of surveillance measures.

But their operation was infiltrated by a gendarme posing as a would-be traveler. Received by Souleye F., the undercover agent was asked for 400,000 CFA francs for the journey. He was then put in contact with Ahmadou Bamba C., who was responsible for gathering the would-be travelers in the village of Samba Dia, in the Sine-Saloum region, an area chosen as a transit point before their transfer to Djiffer, where they were to embark.

Faced with the imminent departure, the commander of the Kaolack Regional Intelligence Service (SR) set up a surveillance and technical analysis system to monitor the suspects' phone numbers. This led to an operation in Samba Dia and Djiffer, resulting in the arrest of the three individuals involved.

Analysis of their mobile phones confirmed the existence of the WhatsApp group and revealed several audio exchanges detailing the organization of the clandestine trip.

Following the investigation, Souleye F., Ahmadou Bamba C., and Arfang Bakary D. were arrested for conspiracy, attempted fraud, and migrant smuggling. They were brought before the Financial Judicial Unit in Dakar on March 2nd, while the search continues for their accomplice who is still at large.