Drugs: Artist Arona Benga and his co-defendants to be tried on August 11

The Rufisque criminal court heard the drug case involving artist Amadou Bia Sow, better known as Arona Benga, on July 27, 2026. According to Seneweb, the case was adjourned until August 11 due to the failure of his co-defendants, Mamadou Thiam and Abdoulaye Diassy, to be brought from prison.

The latter two are being prosecuted for possession, offering, and distribution of drugs. Meanwhile, Maguette Cissé and Amadou Bia Sow, alias Arona Benga, who are appearing in court as free men after having been granted provisional release during the investigation, are being prosecuted for drug use.

Regarding the facts

In December 2025, as part of an operation to combat drug trafficking, the central police station of Rufisque acted on intelligence indicating the existence of a cocaine trafficking network operating in the André Kenny district.

According to investigators, this network was led by Mamadou Thiam, alias Mo Thiam, who relied on several collaborators to ensure deliveries.

The investigation unit first identified the suspected deliveryman, Abdoulaye Diassy. An undercover police officer, posing as a customer, managed to arrest him in the act of making a delivery, in possession of a whitish powder identified as cocaine.

During his interrogation, Abdoulaye Diassy identified Mamadou Thiam as his supplier. A raid on Thiam's home allowed police to catch Mamadou Thiam, Maguette Cissé, and Amadou Bia Sow, also known as Arona Benga, in the act of using cocaine.

The search of the premises led to the seizure of 2 grams of cocaine, 2 grams of MDMA (a synthetic drug), and five pipes used for consumption. Detectives also discovered drug packaging materials, including a camping stove, a box of baking soda, and a lighter.

When questioned by investigators, Arona Benga, who presented himself as a nightclub manager, admitted to drug use. He explained that he had started using cocaine two to three months prior, after losing his job. Suffering, he said, from depression and after his wife left him, he had agreed to stay with his friend Mamadou Thiam. He added that Thiam had purchased the drugs for their personal use.