Arona Benga: Admits Cocaine Trafficking in Senegal, Calls Prison 'Salvation'

• Senegalese actor Arona Benga was recently released from prison after being arrested in December 2025 on presumed drug trafficking charges.
• Benga admitted to investigators that he started consuming cocaine three months before his arrest, following job loss, and viewed incarceration as an opportunity to end his addiction.
• During his over month-long detention at Rebeuss prison, his health deteriorated significantly, but he credits the experience with helping him regain faith and achieve sobriety.
• He noted a significant physical transformation after his release, having been eager to enter prison for detoxification.

He viewed his time in detention as a crucial opportunity to end his drug consumption, believing that cocaine would have ultimately claimed his life had he not been imprisoned.

Senegalese actor Arona Benga, recently released from prison, has publicly discussed his past struggles with cocaine addiction and the circumstances leading to his incarceration. In an interview featured on The Podcast, Benga recounted the events surrounding his arrest in December 2025 on suspicion of drug trafficking, a case also reported by Kawtef. His candid account sheds light on the personal impact of his legal troubles.

He admitted to investigators the facts of the case, explaining that his drug use began approximately three months prior to his apprehension. This period of substance abuse, he disclosed, followed the loss of his employment, which he identified as the catalyst for a downward spiral that ultimately brought him before the justice system.

Despite facing legal action, Arona Benga stated he experienced no particular fear upon being placed under remand. Instead, he viewed this period of detention as a critical opportunity to cease his drug consumption, a perspective he shared openly. He expressed a strong conviction that cocaine would have claimed his life had he not been incarcerated, suggesting that imprisonment offered him a path to sobriety and survival.

His admission to authorities regarding the presumed trafficking charges was part of this narrative, as he sought to address the underlying issues of his addiction and the trajectory his life had taken. He saw the legal process as an unexpected intervention.

Benga's time at Rebeuss prison, lasting over a month, proved to be a transformative experience, which he described as a crucial step towards recovery. During his incarceration, his health significantly deteriorated, with one account noting he became gravely ill and unrecognizable. However, he credits this period of confinement with helping him rediscover his faith and resume the practice of prayer, which he had previously abandoned.

His stay also highlighted the limited nature of his support network, as only one actress visited him. Furthermore, his family found it necessary to publicly refute claims of his destitution while at Rebeuss, underscoring the challenges faced during his detention.

Arona Benga detailed a profound physical change, noting he was extremely emaciated and unrecognizable before his detention, contrasting this with a noticeable transformation after his release. He even confessed to having been eager to enter prison, specifically to undergo detoxification, indicating a proactive desire for change.

Reflecting on his experience, Benga summarized his time at Rebeuss as profoundly beneficial, stating that the incarceration served as a vital intervention in his life and ultimately contributed to his well-being. This personal account offers a unique perspective on the impact of imprisonment.

Source: Reporting based on an interview via The Podcast.