Theft of over 70 million CFA francs worth of equipment from a construction site: Urban Security arrests five people

A systematic and organized theft, which took place over several months at a construction site near the Dakar train station roundabout, has reached a legal conclusion with the arrest of five individuals. Two security guards, a third guard, a receiver of stolen goods, and a scrap metal dealer were implicated in the theft of 32 outdoor air conditioning units, for a total estimated loss of over 70,000,000 CFA francs.

It was through complaint letter no. 3595/SU, dated September 2, 2026, that the Urban Security Division of the Dakar Central Police Station was notified of these thefts. According to statements gathered from P. Leprince, the site's security manager, it was the site's storekeeper who raised the alarm after noticing the disappearance of several outdoor air conditioning units.

An inventory was then carried out, confirming the fraudulent disappearance of this equipment, the unit value of which exceeds 2,000,000 CFA francs.

The modus operandi revealed by CCTV

The analysis of images from surveillance cameras installed on the construction site allowed investigators to identify security guard PM Ndiaye covering the cameras with clothing, thus preventing any recording at the time of the events.

Investigators then went to the scene. A thorough review of CCTV footage from a neighboring company allowed them to reconstruct the perpetrators' suspected modus operandi.

An individual described as a receiver of stolen goods entered the construction site with a pushcart used to transport the stolen outdoor units. Once the operation was complete, the clothing used to conceal the cameras was removed, according to Seneweb sources.

It was in these circumstances that the two security guards were arrested as they began their night shift. They are PM Ndiaye (26 years old), residing in ZAC Mbao, and A. Camara (32 years old), residing in Grand-Yoff.

During questioning, PM Ndiaye admitted to the crimes. He detailed the strategies he and another security guard, H. Aïdara, used to commit the thefts, specifying that they had been ongoing for several months. According to his statements, the alleged receiver of stolen goods was contacted by phone and asked to come to the construction site late at night to collect the stolen units, which were sold for between 20,000 and 25,000 CFA francs each. This amount was completely out of proportion to the actual value of over 2,000,000 CFA francs per unit.

For his part, A. Camara denied any involvement in these thefts. However, investigators note that the circumstances of the investigation suggest he may possess useful information about his colleagues' actions, given the repeated nature of the thefts committed on the construction site.

The two suspects were taken into custody after being informed of their rights, including the right to legal counsel. A. Camara, a Guinean national, was released by the police.

In the ongoing investigation, a third security guard, H. Aidara (21 years old), residing in Lansar, was also arrested. He admitted his full involvement in the theft of the outdoor units, claiming to have always received his share of the loot.

The ongoing investigation led to the arrest of the suspected receiver of stolen goods, AK Mbaye (46 years old), who is homeless. Under questioning, he confessed to having gone to the location with his rickshaw, with which he transported four stolen outdoor units on the night of September 2, 2026, before identifying the person to whom he had resold the merchandise.

Following his directions, a transport operation carried out in Bel Air led to the arrest of scrap metal dealer B. Bakayako, a 24-year-old Malian student residing in Lac Rose. On site, it was observed that he had already cut the units into pieces and recovered the copper, which was packaged in four bags. He stated that he had purchased the four outdoor units for 150,000 CFA francs from AK Mbaye.

The four bags containing the recovered copper were seized and recorded for placement under seal.

After being notified of their right to legal assistance, the accused were taken into custody for conspiracy, multiple thefts committed as a group at night with the use of a vehicle, and complicity and concealment of these acts.

At this stage of the investigation, five people, including four Senegalese and one Malian, have been arrested. The search continues to identify and apprehend any other possible suspects involved in these events.

In total, 32 outdoor air conditioning units disappeared from the construction site, for an estimated total loss of over 70,000,000 CFA francs, or more than 2,000,000 CFA francs per unit. The equipment was resold by the suspected thieves at very low prices: between 20,000 and 25,000 CFA francs per unit at the stage of receiving stolen goods.

Mor Mbaye Cissé