Djibouti Police Arrest Money Transfer Manager Accused of Embezzling 3.3 Million Francs

Djibouti police have arrested the manager of a money transfer agency accused of embezzling 3.3 million Djiboutian francs, equivalent to about $18,570, from a branch in the southern city of Ali-Sabieh, the National Police said on Wednesday.

The arrest followed nearly two weeks of police searches after the owner of the agency reported the alleged theft to authorities in Ali-Sabieh on Sept. 19. According to a police statement, the owner told investigators that the branch manager had disappeared after allegedly taking the money. Before leaving, the manager reportedly left the agency’s key at his home.

Police officers from the Ali-Sabieh detachment, supported by an intervention unit, went to the money transfer office after receiving the complaint and began examining the circumstances surrounding the missing funds.

Authorities subsequently opened a search for the manager. Police said the suspect appeared to move repeatedly from one location to another across Djibouti, complicating efforts to locate him. Investigators believed the frequent movement was an attempt to avoid detection and arrest.

The search eventually involved officers from the BEDJ unit at the central police station as well as police personnel from Ali-Sabieh. Authorities continued tracking the suspect while gathering information on his movements. According to the National Police, investigators eventually identified his location through the geolocation of his mobile phone. Police said officers traced him to Cité Nassib, a neighborhood in Djibouti City, where he was arrested at approximately 9 a.m. on Oct. 3. The arrest came about two weeks after the agency owner initially reported the alleged embezzlement.

The National Police did not provide additional details about how the missing funds were allegedly removed from the agency or whether any of the money had been recovered following the arrest.

Authorities also did not disclose the name of the money transfer company or the identity of the accused manager in the statement. Following his arrest, the suspect was placed into custody as investigators completed the initial police procedures.

Police said he was later brought before a court to face proceedings connected to the alleged embezzlement. The case highlights the growing importance of financial oversight in Djibouti’s money transfer sector, which plays an important role in the daily movement of funds between individuals, families and businesses. Money transfer agencies are widely used across Djibouti, including in regional cities such as Ali-Sabieh, where they provide financial services to residents who may rely heavily on cash transfers.

Allegations involving the disappearance of funds from such businesses can have serious consequences for both operators and customers, particularly when managers or employees have direct access to company cash and transaction systems.

In this case, the owner’s quick report to police appears to have triggered a coordinated response involving both local and central police units.

The National Police presented the investigation as an example of cooperation between different units and the use of technology to locate suspects who attempt to evade authorities. The use of mobile-phone geolocation was ultimately central to the arrest, according to the police account.

Authorities did not say whether investigators had obtained information showing where the suspect had traveled between Sept. 19 and Oct. 3, or whether other individuals were being questioned in connection with the case.

There was also no immediate information about whether prosecutors would seek additional charges beyond the alleged embezzlement. The accusations against the manager remain allegations and will now be considered through the judicial process.

Police said the suspect had been handed over to the court after his arrest, marking the end of the initial search operation and the beginning of formal legal proceedings.

The National Police did not announce a date for the suspect’s next court appearance. For the money transfer agency, attention is now likely to focus on whether the missing 3.3 million Djiboutian francs can be recovered and whether investigators identify any weaknesses in the branch’s internal financial controls.

The case also underscores the role of coordinated policing between Djibouti City and regional departments when suspects move between different parts of the country. Authorities have not released further information about the investigation.