"I take drugs, I've lost everything..." : The shocking confession of MS Diallo, imprisoned after placing an order on the dark web

MS Diallo, a fish farmer, was tried before the criminal chamber of the Mbour High Court. He is being prosecuted for international drug trafficking and undeclared importation. The prosecution requested a ten-year prison sentence and a fine of four million CFA francs.

During a routine check conducted on November 5, 2024, by customs officers at Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD), a package from Canada was flagged as suspicious. The package contained a product presented in plant form. It was labeled as Bluetooth devices, but this raised suspicions among the customs officials. Analysis confirmed that the contents were cannabis.

In court, the defendant admitted to placing an order on the dark web. According to his statements, he wanted to purchase 100 grams of cannabis for personal use. However, he claims to have made a mistake during the cryptocurrency payment, which led to the delivery of nearly two kilograms of cannabis.

“I’ve been using cannabis since I was 16,” he told the presiding judge. Born in Senegal but having moved to Canada at the age of two, he explained that he suffers from a long-standing addiction that he has tried to overcome on several occasions.

"It's a vice. I consulted many marabouts to stop," he confided, promising never to fall back into this practice.

The accused also spoke of the serious consequences this case has had on his personal and family life. Indebted and without income, he claims that his friends are now contributing to the support of his wives and family.

In his closing argument, Prosecutor Camara asserted that the facts clearly constituted international drug trafficking. He emphasized that the accused had deliberately used the dark web, "a notoriously illicit space," and made the payment via cryptocurrency, which, according to him, demonstrated his full awareness of the product's fraudulent origin.

The public prosecutor, however, requested that the charge be reclassified from smuggling to undeclared importation. Considering the evidence sufficiently established, he requested a ten-year prison sentence and a total fine of four million CFA francs, three million for drug trafficking and one million for undeclared importation.

For the defense, the lawyers argued the absence of criminal intent. Attorney Oumar Sène emphasized the consistency of his client's statements regarding the quantity actually ordered. According to him, his client never wavered in his testimony and always admitted to placing an order for only 100 grams of cannabis.

The lawyer also argued that his client could not have known the exact route of the package or its point of entry into Senegal. "Nothing in the file proves that he knew where the drugs came from," he pleaded, requesting his client's acquittal on the smuggling charges.

Similarly, Mr. Moïse Ndior requested his client's acquittal on charges of international drug trafficking and smuggling. He emphasized the defendant's "detailed and consistent" statements, as well as the dramatic consequences of these proceedings on his family.

"It's an entire family that's falling apart. Give him a second chance," pleaded the lawyer, believing that his client would be more useful to society by continuing his fish farming business and assuming his family responsibilities.

The Criminal Chamber adjourned the case for deliberation until July 17, 2026.