Senegalese authorities have arrested Mame Coumba Diankha, a popular MMA fighter known as Reug-Reug, on September 26, 2026, for trafficking counterfeit $100 bills. According to reports, Reug-Reug was involved in a complex operation involving the "washing" of counterfeit bills. The arrest was the culmination of a months-long investigation that began with a tip about individuals seeking to "wash" counterfeit $100 bills.
The investigation, led by the Brigade de recherches de la gendarmerie de Faidherbe in Dakar, involved an infiltration operation where two agents posed as technicians specializing in "washing" counterfeit bills. The agents made contact with a suspect named Diégane Faye, also known as Saltigué Dibo, who claimed to have connections to high-profile individuals involved in the counterfeiting operation.
Saltigué Dibo arranged to meet with the undercover agents at a station in Technopole, where he provided samples of counterfeit $100 bills. The agents demonstrated their supposed "washing" technique, convincing Saltigué Dibo that they were legitimate. A third meeting was arranged in Pikine, where Saltigué Dibo was to bring a larger quantity of counterfeit bills to be "washed."
However, upon arrival, Saltigué Dibo was intercepted by a surveillance team, and the undercover agents invited him to join their vehicle. Once inside, Saltigué Dibo handed over a box containing 160 counterfeit $100 bills. He was subsequently arrested and offered a deal to cooperate with authorities in exchange for leniency.
Saltigué Dibo revealed that the operation involved a high-profile individual, later identified as Reug-Reug, who was allegedly working with his brother or uncle, Mamadou Bamba Ndiaye, also known as "Usine." Reug-Reug's involvement was confirmed after Saltigué Dibo called "Usine," who then arranged for Saltigué Dibo to deal directly with the undercover agents.
To further investigate Reug-Reug's involvement, the gendarmes rented an apartment in the Maristes area, where they set up a machine to "wash" counterfeit bills. The operation resulted in the seizure of counterfeit bills worth nearly one billion FCFA ($1.7 million).
Reug-Reug's arrest marks a significant achievement for Senegalese authorities in their efforts to combat counterfeit money trafficking. The MMA fighter's involvement in the operation is currently under investigation, and further details are expected to emerge as the case unfolds.
Key points
- Reug-Reug, a popular Senegalese MMA fighter, was arrested on September 26, 2026, for trafficking counterfeit $100 bills worth nearly $1.7 million.
- The investigation involved an infiltration operation by undercover agents who posed as technicians specializing in "washing" counterfeit bills.
- The arrest resulted in the seizure of counterfeit bills worth nearly one billion FCFA ($1.7 million).
