The national carrier of Senegal, Air Sénégal, is currently facing an international investigation into alleged trafficking of goods and drugs. According to reports, the probe, led by Interpol, aims to uncover the extent of a purported system involving certain members of the airline's commercial flying personnel. The investigation has uncovered a wide range of smuggled items, including car parts and oversized luggage.
The alleged trafficking scheme involves goods being transported for payment on behalf of a company based in France. A significant incident that triggered the investigation was the discovery of a pot of milk containing hard drugs. An Air Sénégal flight attendant was reportedly asked to transport the suspicious item from Paris, but upon opening it, she found the drugs and subsequently informed the authorities.
The flight attendant provided investigators with the contact number of the person who gave her the package, but the individual has since become unreachable. As a precautionary measure, the airline's management, led by Director-General Tidiane Ndiaye, decided to remove all flight attendants and stewards assigned to the Dakar-Paris route, effective September 17, 2026.
The decision to remove the personnel has been described as "conservative" and aims to allow for an internal investigation to establish individual responsibilities before any potential sanctions are imposed. The airline's management asserts that this move is unrelated to the company's financial situation. Notably, Air Sénégal's flight attendants and stewards reportedly earn 710,000 FCFA, significantly higher than their counterparts at Air Côte d'Ivoire and ASKY.
The investigation has revealed that some Air Sénégal personnel own businesses, including car part stores, hair salons, and shops, which work with companies providing general services. Meanwhile, the airline has temporarily replaced its personnel with foreign staff provided by My Way, under an ACMI leasing contract.
According to reports, the flight attendants and stewards involved in the alleged trafficking scheme lacked the required security clearance, which may have facilitated the illicit commercial activities. This is not the first instance of such allegations against Air Sénégal, as a similar case was detected on the New York-Dakar route, where an agent made 29 round trips within a year.
The kilogram of baggage was reportedly charged at around 10,000 F CFA, compared to the standard 15 euros for such informal transportation. The airline's management has stated that it will await the results of the investigation before imposing any definitive sanctions. The outcome of the probe will likely determine the future course of action for Air Sénégal.
Key points
- Air Sénégal's personnel were found to be involved in alleged trafficking of goods and drugs on the Dakar-Paris route.
- The airline's management has taken a conservative measure to remove personnel assigned to the route pending an internal investigation.
- This is not the first instance of alleged trafficking against Air Sénégal, with a similar case detected on the New York-Dakar route.
