In a significant crackdown on child exploitation, police in Senegal have arrested 14 individuals suspected of being part of a paedophile gang that operated between Senegal and France. These arrests were made following a comprehensive operation that aimed to dismantle a transnational organized criminal network, as reported by the police on Sunday. All accused are Senegalese citizens facing severe charges, including organized paedophilia, pimping, and the rape of minors, some of which involve heinous acts with young boys who were reportedly forced into unprotected and filmed sexual acts with potentially HIV-positive men.

Investigators revealed that the gang had been active since 2017 and was allegedly orchestrated from France, with a key suspect being a Frenchman arrested in northern France in April 2025. Reports suggest that the Senegalese defendants acted under his directives, receiving money transfers in exchange for their criminal activities. This international aspect of the case underscores the complexities involved in policing child exploitation across borders and the need for enhanced cooperation between countries in addressing such crimes.

The operations, which involved targeted searches across various neighborhoods in Dakar and a nearby city, Kaolack, highlight the ongoing challenges that law enforcement faces in tackling organized crime, particularly those exploiting vulnerable children. The implications of these arrests extend beyond legal repercussions, as they raise alarming concerns about child safety and the need for more robust protective measures against predatory networks in the region.