A major legal storm is brewing in Senegal’s online gambling sector after authorities uncovered an alleged fraudulent scheme linked to Melbet. An investigation spearheaded by the Special Cybercrime Unit led to the opening of a judicial inquiry in late January 2026 before the First Financial Crimes Court. Charges filed include criminal conspiracy, fraudulent representation and money laundering, revealing a complex web of illicit financial flows.

Complex financial networks and staggering transaction volumes

The probe has exposed a sophisticated operation involving players from multiple nations. Among those implicated are Russian citizen Filipp Mikhalin, Ivorian national Mécapeu Catherine Prisca Droh, and accomplices from Senegal and Moldova, all placed under judicial supervision. Cyber patrols identified widespread sponsored advertisements on Facebook and Meta promising unrealistic quick-win scenarios, luring unsuspecting bettors with claims of “millions to be won daily.”

Judicial records from payment operator Wave reveal staggering sums exchanged between September and December 2025. Client payments totaled over 29.5 billion West African CFA francs, while disbursements amounted to approximately 23.5 billion CFA francs. This unexplained discrepancy of nearly 6 billion CFA francs raises serious red flags for investigators, who suspect systematic money laundering and opaque fund retention tactics.

The modus operandi involved luring users into high-stakes virtual games that appeared to offer immediate payouts. Victims were then required to make small advance payments through unregulated merchant interfaces like the “Game Sawa” app to supposedly claim their winnings.

Investigators also uncovered evidence of deceptive marketing practices exploiting institutional symbols and public figures. Unauthorized use of the Senegalese Broadcasting Corporation (RTS) logo and images of international footballer Sadio Mané were deployed to artificially bolster the credibility of these fraudulent campaigns.

Opaque contractual structure and international ramifications

The investigation has peeled back layers of Melbet’s legal facade. Records show that Melbet Limited, the company’s Cyprus-based entity, faces dissolution proceedings, effectively stripping it of legal capacity to operate internationally.

To bypass this legal hurdle, a network of shell companies allegedly came into play. Structures such as Vikhrédia Suarl and Batnesto Ltd were reportedly used through domain leasing agreements that conferred no legitimate gaming licenses. Senegal’s National Lottery (Lonase) has firmly maintained its position, denying any contractual ties with Melbet and enforcing strict compliance with anti-money laundering and transparency regulations.