Senegalese police say they have arrested 14 people and broken up a paedophile gang operating between the country and France. Those arrested, who are all Senegalese, were part of a 'transnational' criminal group that has been in operation since 2017, according to a police statement. The group was accused of 'organised paedophilia, pimping, rape of minors under 15, sodomy, and intentional transmission of HIV/Aids'. They allegedly repeatedly forced boys to have 'unprotected sex' with men who were mostly HIV-positive and filmed it.
Four of the accused are said to have been acting 'on the instructions' of a Frenchman arrested in France in April 2025 'in exchange for money transfers'. The 14 accused were brought before a judge following searches in several neighbourhoods in Dakar, and the city of Kaolack, southeast of the capital. A police statement released stated coordinated raids had been carried out at the homes of the various suspects, with items believed to be linked to the alleged crimes seized.
'The DIC [Criminal Investigations Division] carried out a major operation, dismantling a transnational organised criminal group whose members are based primarily between France and Senegal,' said the police. The operation was conducted through cooperation between Senegal and France, with a delegation of French officers involved. The police have pledged to continue pursuing and dismantling such criminal networks and have released a toll-free number for the public to report any relevant information.
Four of the accused are said to have been acting 'on the instructions' of a Frenchman arrested in France in April 2025 'in exchange for money transfers'. The 14 accused were brought before a judge following searches in several neighbourhoods in Dakar, and the city of Kaolack, southeast of the capital. A police statement released stated coordinated raids had been carried out at the homes of the various suspects, with items believed to be linked to the alleged crimes seized.
'The DIC [Criminal Investigations Division] carried out a major operation, dismantling a transnational organised criminal group whose members are based primarily between France and Senegal,' said the police. The operation was conducted through cooperation between Senegal and France, with a delegation of French officers involved. The police have pledged to continue pursuing and dismantling such criminal networks and have released a toll-free number for the public to report any relevant information.
