Bénin: 5 Cybercriminels Arrêtés Adjarra Bénin, Arsenal Saisi

• Five foreign nationals, aged 20-28, were arrested on September 3, 2026, in Adjarra, Benin, on suspicion of cybercrime.
• The arrests followed a surveillance operation by police from the Médédjonou border station, acting on intelligence reports.
• Authorities seized 22 laptops, 25 smartphones, 6 bank cards, 5 identity documents, and other digital equipment from the suspects' residence.
• One suspect sustained a leg injury attempting to escape by jumping from the second floor during the police raid.
• The individuals and seized materials were transferred to the Southern Regional Cybercrime Fighting Unit in Porto-Novo for further legal proceedings.

The swift and coordinated action leading to the arrest of these five foreign nationals underscores Benin's proactive stance in combating cybercriminality.

On Thursday, September 3, 2026, law enforcement officials in Benin successfully apprehended five foreign nationals suspected of cybercrime activities. The arrests, which took place in a residence located in Gbéhamey, within the Adjarra municipality of the Ouémé department, followed an intensive surveillance operation. The individuals, all men aged between 20 and 28, were taken into custody after police acted on intelligence reports suggesting suspicious activities at the property.

The operation began the previous night, Wednesday, September 2, 2026, when officers from the Médédjonou border station initiated discrete surveillance around the suspicious house in Adjarra. Investigators noted that the residence was equipped with its own surveillance cameras. The following morning, around 8:00 AM, police moved in to execute the raid. During the intervention, one of the suspects attempted to evade capture by jumping from the second floor of the building, sustaining a leg injury that required medical assessment.

A subsequent search of the premises revealed a substantial cache of equipment believed to be used in illicit cyber operations. Authorities seized 22 HP laptop computers, 25 Android smartphones, and two traditional feature phones. Additionally, six bank cards, five identity documents, two SIM cards, three surveillance cameras, and five blister packs of SIM cards were confiscated, alongside various other computer and telephone accessories. Following their apprehension, the five cybercriminals arrested in Adjarra, Bénin, along with all the seized materials, were initially transported to the Médédjonou border station before being transferred to the specialized Southern Regional Cybercrime Fighting Unit (Antenne Régionale Sud de Lutte contre la Cybercriminalité) in Porto-Novo for further legal proceedings.

The swift and coordinated action leading to the arrest of these five foreign nationals underscores Benin's proactive stance in combating cybercriminality. The involvement of the Antenne Régionale Sud de Lutte contre la Cybercriminalité in Porto-Novo highlights the country's dedicated infrastructure for addressing digital offenses. This specialized unit plays a crucial role in investigating and prosecuting cybercrimes, signaling a robust enforcement environment for individuals engaged in such activities within the nation's borders.

The extensive list of seized items, including numerous laptops, smartphones, and financial instruments, points to the sophisticated nature of the alleged operations and the digital footprint left by cybercriminals. Such seizures are a critical component of the broader fight against cybercrime in Benin, as they disrupt illicit networks and gather vital evidence for prosecution. The focus on digital assets and the systematic transfer of suspects and evidence to a specialized cybercrime unit demonstrate a comprehensive approach to tackling this evolving threat.

The recent arrests in Adjarra carry significant implications for anyone operating within Benin's digital landscape, particularly for legal professionals advising clients in the region. The fact that the five individuals apprehended were all foreign nationals, aged between 20 and 28, suggests that Benin is actively targeting and prosecuting a diverse range of actors involved in cyber-related offenses. This incident serves as a clear indicator of the heightened risk environment for cyber-related activities and potential liabilities within the country.

The detailed nature of the police intelligence, the discrete surveillance, and the subsequent raid, including the discovery of the suspects' own surveillance cameras, illustrate the thoroughness of law enforcement efforts. The substantial "arsenal informatique" seized in Adjarra further emphasizes the scale of operations that authorities are prepared to dismantle. This proactive approach to the lutte cybercriminalité in Porto-Novo and surrounding regions means that digital asset security and compliance with local laws are paramount for businesses and individuals alike.

Lawyers advising clients operating in Benin should note the active enforcement against cybercrime, particularly the seizure of digital assets and the involvement of the Antenne Régionale Sud de Lutte contre la Cybercriminalité, which indicates a heightened risk environment for cyber-related offenses and potential liabilities.

Source: Original reporting via provided source material.