Six suspects have been arrested in connection with a robbery at the Riu Baobab Hotel in Mbour, approximately 80 kilometres west of Dakar, which occurred last weekend.
According to reports from a local newspaper on Friday, the suspects were tracked down using surveillance camera footage, leading to an early morning raid on Thursday at 5 a.m. The suspects, many of whom are repeat offenders, were reportedly caught off guard while sleeping and surrendered without resistance.
The alleged leader of the group, a former informant for law enforcement who later turned to criminal activities, was also taken into custody. The newspaper credited collaboration between various security branches for the successful operation.
During the robbery, the gang escaped with 12 million CFA francs, despite an exchange of gunfire with security personnel. Although immediate searches in the area initially failed to yield results, a robust security system was established to restore calm and ensure the safety of hotel guests.
In response to the incident, Senegal’s President emphasised the urgent need to bolster security at tourist sites during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. He called for the reorganisation of the tourist police and the strengthening of security measures across all tourist establishments in the country.