Lansana Sarr, mayor of Dionewar in Senegal’s Fatick region, has been placed in custody along with six alleged accomplices on charges of migrant trafficking and criminal conspiracy.

Authorities say Sarr was arrested on March 14 for allegedly organizing a clandestine journey. A pirogue carrying migrants was intercepted in Bassar, a village in the commune of Bassoul.

The Financial Judicial Pool indicted Sarr and his accomplices on Friday, leading to their imprisonment. This comes despite Senegal’s adoption of the National Strategy to Combat Irregular Migration (SNLMI) in 2023.

Illegal migrant departures remain a challenge in Senegal, as authorities struggle to curb the growing crisis.