Customs officials at the Port of Cotonou intercepted a shipment of undeclared goods concealed within a container manifested as general merchandise, following a routine inspection flagged by risk-profiling software used by Beninese customs.
Authorities have not disclosed the full contents of the seizure while the investigation continues, but said the case underscores the value of the risk-based inspection systems the port has invested in over recent years.
Cotonou has periodically been used as a transit point for goods moving into the wider Sahel region, and customs officials in Benin have said improving detection at the port is a priority alongside broader trade facilitation efforts.