After more than three months of intensive manhunt launched last November, the Senegalese police have dismantled a gang specializing in armed attacks against businesses, mainly in the Bel-Air sector, reports L'Observateur.

A large-scale joint operation

The investigation, initially led by the Bel-Air police station, mobilized elite units to address the surge in robberies: the Criminal Investigation Division (DIC) and the Urban Security Unit (SU). This collaborative effort led to the identification of the organization's mastermind, AS Diallo, alias "Rasta," a crime boss from the sub-region residing in Boune.

Profile of suspects and modus operandi

The gang, mainly composed of dockworkers and West African nationals, operated with methodical violence. The accomplices arrested are: M. Faye (driver), A. Baldé, MA Barry (mechanic), and AO Bâ (driver from Jakarta).

They operated at night, using climbing, breaking and entering and intimidation with firearms and knives to rob companies and multi-service businesses, the same source claims.

Seizures and legal proceedings

During the arrests, the newspaper adds, police seized a worrying arsenal: firearms, six rounds of ammunition, machetes and various burglary tools such as nail pullers.

The five arrested members confessed to the crimes. They are being prosecuted for conspiracy, armed robbery committed at night, breaking and entering, and use of weapons. The investigation continues to locate the remaining gang members, according to the GFM news outlet.