The former head of the anti-drug unit at the Port of Abidjan and his co-defendants have been sentenced to five years in prison for their role in a cocaine diversion case. The ruling was delivered by a criminal court on Wednesday.

The case dates back to 2022 when authorities arrested an informant linked to the unit. Investigators found 37 grams of cocaine at his residence, which was traced to an intercepted shipment.

Further investigations revealed that the seized drugs had been illegally diverted instead of being properly confiscated. The sentencing marks a significant step in Côte d’Ivoire’s fight against corruption and drug-related crimes.