Thanks to the vigilance and investigations of the Ouagadougou District Police Station (CPA) No. 8, two dangerous criminal networks that had been terrorizing the capital have been dismantled. In total, losses exceeding 400 million CFA francs were narrowly averted.

1. The fake lawyer and the cheap gold bars: a 400 million euro scam foiled

The first network, with an international reach, was orchestrated from abroad by a mastermind posing as a business lawyer. His objective? To set up a high-stakes scam around a fake transaction involving 150 kilograms of gold .

Once on Burkinabe soil with their accomplices, the group approached a clandestine gold buyer. The affair took a bizarre turn when the organization split into two groups of dupes:

1. The "buyers" clan : who sought to fleece a wealthy investor to finance the operation.
2. The "sellers" clan : who were preparing to trap the first group by passing them fake gold bars.

The investigators, who had been discreetly monitoring the gang's movements, intervened in time to stop this scheme estimated at over 400,000,000 FCFA .

2. End of the road for a pair of repeat offenders

The second dismantled network consisted of two particularly hardened criminals. Specializing in armed robberies , they preyed on neighborhoods in the capital (notably Karpala, Yagma, Bassinko, and Bissighin). Their modus operandi involved scouting homes and businesses at night to burglarize or attack their targets.

An arsenal and counterfeit gold seized

The effective intervention of law enforcement resulted in the seizure of incriminating evidence:

1. An automatic pistol and its ammunition.
2. A crate filled with fake gold ingots.
3. Precision scales for weighing gold.

The National Police's call for vigilance: The National Police warmly praised the cooperation of citizens, essential to the success of this operation. They remind the public to remain vigilant and continue to report any suspicious behavior via the toll-free numbers: 17 , 16, and 1010 .