Dr Yves Kafando, boss of the CNLF and some of his collaborators hosted a press conference relating to the seizure of a large quantity of contraband rice in the Houet province. It was Thursday, February 15, 2024 at the headquarters of the Western regional branch of its structure in Bobo-Dioulasso.
This month of February is not a blessed month for counterfeiters and other fraudsters. And for good reason, the sleuths of the National Anti-Fraud Coordination (CNLF) are making them dizzy. Indeed, at the beginning of this month, Dr Yves Kafando and his men seized large quantities of chickens unfit for consumption in Ouagadougou. Also in the same month, they exposed fraudulent practices relating to locally produced rice. Counterfeiters buy local rice, produced in particular in the provinces of Kénédougou, Léraba and Comoé, then package it in packaging “stamped with the words imported rice”, explains Dr Kafando. Because local rice is sold cheaper at 11,500 FCF for a 25 kg bag and 23,000 FCFA for a 50 kg bag. While a 50 kg bag of imported rice costs 24,000 FCFA. That’s 1000 FCFA more in fraudulent profit. Because at 23,000 FCFA per 50 kg bag of imported rice, the trader is already making a profit. Imagine that such a counterfeiter sells 1000 50 kg bags in this way. He fraudulently pockets 1,000,000 FCFA in undue profit to the detriment of the cheated consumer. This therefore means that the National Anti-Fraud Coordination is doing useful work in tracking down all these bandits. It is within this dynamic that the operation which was the subject of the press conference on February 15 in Bobo-Dioulasso is part.
Seizures
First, a team of Dr. Kafando dispatched to Bama, noted the effectiveness of the repackaging of local rice in yellow bags bearing the words “LIZO”, very close to that of the imported rice brand “LIZA” with the same characteristics (a crown and 3 stars). Then a truck containing 321 bags of 50 kg of “LIZO” rice and 39 bags intended for a school canteen, was seized on the Bama – Bobo-Dioulasso axis. In the store of the owner of this cargo located in Yéguéré/Bobo-Dioulasso, investigators discovered 441 bags of 50 kg intended for the same school canteen, 901 empty “LIZO” bags and 65 bags of local rice of 100 kg from Banzon to be repackaged into “LIZO” rice.
The value of this seizure is estimated at 47.743 million FCFA. This includes the value of seized goods, packaging and means of transport. For the penalties incurred by fraudsters, there are two paths. The transactional route consists of an amicable settlement in accordance with the regulations. And the legal route, if the transactional route does not meet the requirements of the CNLF. For the moment, the defendants in this case are at the disposal of the CNLF.
Dr Kafando calls for the collaboration of the population to reduce fraud to its bare minimum, if not to eradicate fraud. He undertakes with his men to track down fraud in all its forms. This is especially true since they have received firm instructions in this regard and have the support of the highest authorities in the country. Even if the CNLF does not yet have a toll-free number, it can be reached at 67 76 76 35 or 70 12 27 55
Aly Konate
[email protected]
