Colobane Phone Theft Ring Dismantled With Over 500 Devices Seized

On May 31, 2026, Senegalese authorities dismantled a major theft ring in Colobane, seizing over 500 phones, 33 tablets and computers, with 23 arrests linked to organized cybercrime and electronic device trafficking in Dakar.

The Operation: A Strategic Crackdown on Urban Crime

The National Gendarmerie, under General Martin Faye, executed a coordinated operation targeting a sophisticated network specializing in stolen electronics. The Colobane Research Section, supported by the GIGN, conducted a dawn raid, seizing contraband from three residences and six shops. The scale of the operation highlights the growing threat of organized theft in Dakar, where mobile phone and cash crimes have surged in recent years.

“This operation underscores our commitment to dismantling structures that exploit urban vulnerabilities,” stated a spokesperson for the National Gendarmerie. “The use of geolocation technology was pivotal in tracing the network’s activities.”

Geolocation as a Key Tool

The investigation began with detectives