The National Financial Information Processing Unit (Centif) revealed a money laundering network worth 1.5 billion CFA francs in its 2024 activity report. "Centif was contacted by a counterpart CRF established in Europe, through spontaneous information, on the economic reasons for the various financial transactions of a consulting firm it calls "Beta" in business relations with Senegalese entities. Transfers totaling more than 1,500,000,000 CFA francs were made in euros (€) from an account opened by a public entity to a bank account opened in the name of the consulting firm Beta based in Europe," the members of the body declared in the chapter on money laundering from corruption, influence peddling and criminal conspiracy.

Subsequently, they specify, a significant portion of the funds collected by the consulting firm was redirected to accounts opened in the books of banks established in Senegal in favor of an entity called Game.

 

In this regard, the investigations conducted by Centif established that the reasons for the various transfers from the public entity are explained by the fact that the consulting firm Beta is acting as an advisor in a dispute between the public entity and a foreign company. The transfers constitute payments related to the firm's services.

 

However, the investigators report that the analysis of the various flows revealed that the Game company, headed by a well-known (Business Manager) named X, who is reputed to have connections with businessmen, directors of national companies and public authorities, had signed a business introduction contract with the Beta consultancy firm, and was to receive variable commissions calculated on the basis of a percentage of the 20% VAT-exclusive fees generated by the Beta firm following the contracting of files and business obtained or facilitated by the Game company.

 

"The analysis revealed a significant discrepancy between the contractual commitments and the payments actually made to Game, suggesting the existence of a kickback mechanism and misappropriation of funds under the guise of fictitious services. At the end of the investigations, serious and consistent evidence was found that suggests that these facts may constitute money laundering from corruption, influence peddling and criminal conspiracy," the report states.