Senegal Arrests 6 Over US$1.9 Million in Fake Banknotes
SENEGAL · CRIME
Key Facts
- —What happened Senegal’s gendarmerie arrested six people over fake dollar and euro notes.
- —The numbers Seized notes valued at 1.1 billion CFA francs, about US$1.9 million.
- —Where Operations in Dakar, Thiès, Mbour and Louga followed a 5 October tip.
- —US link The haul included 6,600 fake US$100 bills, US$660,000 at face value.
- —Also seized A 9 mm pistol, a dagger, a bulletproof vest and suspected mercury.
- —Still open Charges, suspects’ identities and the notes’ origin have not been disclosed.
Raids in four Senegalese towns turned up 17,800 fake US and European banknotes valued at about US$1.9 million.
Senegal’s national gendarmerie has arrested six people in Dakar, Thiès, Mbour and Louga and seized fake banknotes in US dollars and euros. It put their equivalent value at 1,104,914,840 CFA francs (about US$1.9 million).
The haul, mostly fake US$100 and €100 bills, matters to foreigners because those are the notes visitors, traders and investors carry. Investigators also found a pistol, a dagger, a bulletproof vest and bottles believed to contain mercury.
What the Gendarmerie Seized
The Brigade de recherches de Dakar, the gendarmerie’s criminal investigation unit for the capital, announced the case on Saturday, 10 October. The Agence de Presse Sénégalaise (APS), the state news agency, carried the statement that evening, as did the Dakar news site Seneweb.
According to the statement, investigators acted on intelligence received on Monday, 5 October. The tip pointed to a suspected network holding foreign-currency notes for chemical washing and use as fraudulent payment.
The largest batch was 10,000 notes made to look like €100 bills, €1 million (about US$1.12 million) at face value. The gendarmerie valued them at 650 million CFA francs (about US$1.1 million).
Investigators also found 6,600 notes made to look like US$100 bills in a briefcase, or US$660,000 at face value. The gendarmerie valued them at 376.2 million CFA francs (about US$643,000).
A third batch held 1,200 so-called black notes in €100 denominations, €120,000 at face value (about US$134,000). Their stated value of 78,714,840 CFA francs (about US$134,000) matches the fixed rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro.
Conversions use a market rate of 585.40 CFA francs per US$1 on 11 October 2026.
Beyond the notes, investigators seized a Taurus 9 mm automatic pistol, 20 blank 9 mm cartridges and 15 further cartridges. The list also includes two forgers’ stamps, a bulletproof vest, a dagger and bottles believed to contain mercury.
Seneweb headlined the case as “one billion in fake notes, pistol, dagger” and called it a big gendarmerie seizure. APS described it as trafficking in fake foreign currency worth more than one billion CFA francs (about US$1.7 million).
How the Washing Scheme Is Said to Work
The gendarmerie did not describe the scheme beyond the chemical washing process. Blackened notes and chemical cleaning are, however, hallmarks of what is widely known as the “black money” or “wash-wash” scam.
In the typical version, victims are shown stained paper and told it is real currency disguised for transport. They are then asked to pay for an expensive chemical that will supposedly restore the notes.
A few genuine notes are often “cleaned” in front of the victim to win trust. The rest proves worthless once the money for the chemicals has changed hands.
The gendarmerie said only that the bottles were believed to contain mercury, a toxic metal. It did not say how the substance was used, and the statement does not explain the two forgers’ stamps either.
A Four-Town Operation
Dakar, the capital, is home to Senegal’s main port, airport and banks. Thiès lies about 70 kilometres east, Mbour about 80 kilometres south-east on the coast, and Louga about 200 kilometres north-east.
Mbour sits next to the Saly beach resorts, which draw many European visitors. The gendarmerie did not say which arrests took place in which town.
Senegal’s gendarmerie is a military force that carries out police and criminal investigation work alongside the national police. Its Dakar research brigade investigates serious crime in the capital region.
Senegal is a West African country of about 18 million people. One US$ buys about 585 CFA francs, the currency it shares with seven other West African states.
What It Means for US Readers
The seized haul included 6,600 notes made to look like US$100 bills. The US Secret Service protects the dollar against counterfeiting worldwide, but the gendarmerie did not mention any US role in this case.
For American travellers, the practical lesson is to change money only at banks, ATMs and licensed exchange offices. Offers to swap, “clean” or multiply foreign cash are a clear warning sign.
Business visitors and investors should be wary of cash deals presented as discreet or urgent. Fraud schemes of this kind can reach foreigners through personal contacts, social media or email.
The case also shows police action against financial crime in a country courting foreign investors, including in oil and gas. There is no sign it affects Senegal’s currency or its banks.
What Is Not Known
The gendarmerie did not name the six suspects, give their nationalities or say what charges they may face. It is also not known whether they remain in custody or have been brought before a prosecutor.
Where the fake banknotes were printed, and whether any victims paid money, is unclear. The statement also does not say whether any genuine notes were among the seized bundles.
The gendarmerie did not say whether the pistol was registered or whether foreign authorities have been informed. All six are suspects, and none has been convicted of any offence.
What Comes Next
The gendarmerie said its investigation is continuing, which could lead to further arrests. In Senegal, suspects held by the gendarmerie are normally handed to a prosecutor, who decides on charges.
It asked the public to share information on its free lines, 800 00 20 20 and 123. The seizure does not mean fake banknotes are common in Senegal’s shops or banks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Senegal’s gendarmerie seize?
It seized 6,600 fake US$100 notes and 11,200 fake 100-euro notes, some of them blackened. It also found a pistol, a dagger, a bulletproof vest and suspected mercury.
How much were the fake banknotes worth?
The gendarmerie put their equivalent value at about 1.1 billion CFA francs, or about US$1.9 million. As fakes, the notes have no real value.
What is a black money scam?
Fraudsters show victims blackened paper, claim it is real currency and sell them a costly chemical to clean it. The gendarmerie said the seized notes could be put through a chemical washing process.
Have the suspects been charged?
The gendarmerie has not announced charges or named the six people arrested. They are suspects, and the investigation is continuing.
Is it safe to use cash in Senegal?
Yes, with normal care: use banks, ATMs and licensed exchange offices. Refuse anyone who offers to exchange, clean or multiply currency.
Sources: Gendarmerie nationale du Sénégal; Agence de Presse Sénégalaise (APS); Seneweb (all accessed 11 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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