The urban security unit of the central police station in Dakar arrested four (04) individuals for criminal association, robbery committed at night with breaking and entering, use of a motor vehicle, complicity and receiving stolen goods.

EHM Ndiaye, a businessman residing in Notto Gouye Diama, filed a complaint on January 14th with the Dakar Central Police Station's Urban Security Unit to report a burglary at his warehouse located at his home address. He stated that on the night of January 6, 2026, thieves broke the locks on his store and stole 36 bales of potato sacks and 29 bags of fertilizer, with a total value of over 8,500,000 FCFA, according to Seneweb sources.

To cover their tracks, he added, the suspects changed the padlocks, installing new ones. The complainant reported that, according to one of his contacts, a businessman based in Dakar, an individual, identified by the number 78..., came to his shop offering to sell him bales of potato sacks at a ridiculously low price.

Technical investigations carried out on this phone number have confirmed that this suspect was located in Notto Gouye Diama on the night of January 6, 2026, which explains why he is probably one of the perpetrators of this burglary.

The suspect was contacted through a sting operation and a meeting was arranged. Upon arriving at the meeting in the Medina, he was quickly identified and apprehended despite resisting arrest. He stated his name as:

1- Mr. Mbaye, born on March 16, 2000, seller of spare parts and residing in the Medina.

When questioned about the events, he initially denied them before admitting to them after being presented with technical evidence showing his presence in Notto Gouye Diama on the night in question. He stated that he committed the theft with a man named Fallou, a taxi-luggage driver, and his apprentice, without providing further details. He maintained that he sold the 29 bags of fertilizer to a merchant named C. Fall, based in the Medina district, for 14,000 FCFA each. Regarding the bales of potato sacks, he stated that he had stored them in his warehouse located in Malika.

The cascade of arrests

Continuing the investigation, a trip to the Medina led to the arrest and arrest of the merchant who had purchased the bags of fertilizer stolen during the burglary. He identified himself as follows:

2- C. Fall, born in 1980, claiming to be a trader and residing in the Medina.

Regarding the facts, he admitted to them and stated that he had sold the 15 bags of fertilizer to farmers for 12,000 FCFA per bag. He said that he only had 14 bags left, which he kept in his village located in the Ndondol area, more precisely in the village of Ndiagne Saw.

Continuing their investigation, officers apprehended the driver of the vehicle involved in the robbery and who had transported the loot to Dakar in the Medina district. He stated his name was:

3- C. Sèye, born in December 1995, claiming to be a driver and residing in Dalifort.

This suspect is the one about whom Mr. Mbaye said he was well aware that it was a robbery since even the padlocks had been undone in his presence.

When questioned about the incident, he attempted to deny, unconvincingly, having any knowledge of the illicit origin of the product, even though all the criminal acts were committed in his presence. He stated that another individual found at the scene in Notto participated in the burglary, but claimed he did not know their identity.

A transport operation carried out in Notto Gouye Diama in the Thiès region, after informing the Dakar Prosecutor who gave his approval, led to the arrest of Mr. Gaye, also known as "Mame Modou," cited by Mr. Mbaye as the one who, during his reconnaissance visit, provided him with information that a significant quantity of fertilizer was stored in this warehouse. He was identified as follows:

4- Mr. Gaye, known as "Mame Modou", born in 1999, trader and resident in Notto Gouye Diama.

When questioned about the facts, he tried in vain to deny them, arguing that he certainly said this to Mr. Mbaye but not with the intention of helping him to commit this crime.

A confrontation was held between Mr. Gaye and Mr. Mbaye, and each maintained their statements.

Following this, a transport was arranged to Malika to retrieve the bales of potato sacks. Once there, after removing the padlock on the warehouse, only 34 bales were found, whereas Mr. Mbaye had stated that he had kept 36 bales of potato sacks in that warehouse.

The investigations carried out on site revealed that the landlord of this warehouse, nicknamed R. Fall, possesses a key. Reached by telephone and pressed with questions, he eventually admitted to stealing two (02) bales which he sold on the black market for 120,000 FCFA each.

Plans are underway to travel to Ndiagne Saw (Ndondol) to recover the fourteen (14) bags of fertilizer that were stolen and sold to the receiver C. Fall, a trader established in the Medina.

The investigation is ongoing.