Madar (Fatick) - Forestry agents assigned to the Gandoul marine protected area in Senegal's Fatick region, backed by the gendarmerie, intercepted 123 would-be irregular migrants off Bassoul, one of the islands of the Saloum Delta, overnight from Thursday, 22 to Friday, 23 October 2026, the Senegalese news agency APS reported, citing a security source.
The operation first led to the arrest of 21 people found in a canoe with their presumed smuggler.
Reinforced by members of the Foundiougne gendarmerie brigade and navy personnel stationed at Djirnda, the agents then carried out a joint river patrol that found 102 others abandoned on an island off Bassoul, apparently waiting to set off.
Of the 123 people detained, 69 are Senegalese and 54 Guinean nationals, including 9 women, 7 children and 17 minors, according to the same source.
They were taken to the Foundiougne gendarmerie brigade for full identification and for the investigation. The canoe and a 15-horsepower outboard engine were handed over to the brigade. The source did not say where the group intended to go.
