An operation conducted by the Grand-Lahou police station in southern Ivory Coast has dismantled a suspected human trafficking network. The operation, which took place on Friday, June 26, 2026, resulted in the arrest of five suspects and the rescue of 27 victims who received care.

The starting point: The disappearance of a student in Odienné

The case erupted following the disappearance of Diomandé Drissa, a 21-year-old Koranic student residing in Odienné. Faced with his worrying absence, the local criminal police issued a missing person alert. The investigation eventually led law enforcement to Grand-Lahou, where the young man was being held captive.

The trap of social media and fake employment

When questioned by investigators, the victim explained that he had fallen for an online scam. A woman, identified as Meïté Mariam, had contacted him on social media, promising him a job as a baggage handler with a salary of 300,000 FCFA per month . Seduced by the offer, the young man secretly quit everything.

Disillusionment upon arrival: Once there, the promise of employment vanished. The young man found himself forced to join a network marketing system called "IGNITE".

A ransom of one and a half million demanded

According to revelations by Commissioner Ouattara Abdoul Aziz, the situation quickly escalated into extortion. Meïté Mariam and two accomplices contacted the victim's family via WhatsApp, demanding a ransom of 1.5 million CFA francs . To cover their tracks, the kidnappers used SIM cards from neighboring countries.

It was precisely the tracing of these telephone communications that allowed the police in Odienné to locate the network in Grand-Lahou and to trigger the raid.

Legal proceedings

The Monday following the operation, the five suspects—of various nationalities—along with the 27 collateral victims, were transferred to the Dabou Court of First Instance. The investigation is ongoing to determine each individual's role and to ascertain whether there are other connections or victims.