Client Background
A UK-based renewable energy firm contacted Bond Rees to locate a missing consultant who had gone silent while on assignment in Senegal. The consultant was in Dakar to assess potential sites for a new solar energy project and meet with local government officials and partners.
The firm became increasingly concerned when the consultant missed several important meetings and did not respond to calls or emails for several days, especially given the critical nature of the project and the investment at stake.
The Investigation
Bond Rees began by gathering all relevant information, including the consultant’s travel itinerary, recent contacts, and communication history. The consultant had checked into a hotel in Dakar and was last seen leaving the hotel for a site visit to a rural area outside the city. The last communication from the consultant was an email sent to the firm confirming their intention to travel by car to a potential project site near a town.
Digital Footprint and Local Contacts
Our digital forensics team conducted a detailed analysis of the consultant’s digital footprint, including phone records, GPS data, recent emails, and financial transactions. The last known GPS signal from the consultant’s phone showed a location on a highway leading towards Thiès, but no further digital activity had been recorded since then. This raised concerns about a potential accident, vehicle breakdown, or health emergency in a remote area.
Bond Rees reached out to local contacts, including hotel staff, business associates, local authorities, and transport providers, to gather more information. Several contacts confirmed that the consultant had rented a car and was last seen driving towards the project site, but there were no reports of their arrival or any sightings after they left Dakar.
On-the-Ground Investigation in Senegal
With these leads, Bond Rees deployed local investigators in Dakar to conduct discreet inquiries. Our team collaborated with local transport authorities, community leaders, and business partners to retrace the consultant’s route and check along the highways and roads leading to Thiès.
After several days of investigation, we discovered that the consultant’s vehicle had broken down on a deserted stretch of road, leaving them stranded far from any nearby town. Further inquiries revealed that the consultant had attempted to walk to the nearest village for help but had become lost in the surrounding rural landscape.
Fortunately, the consultant was found by a group of local farmers who provided shelter and food. However, due to limited access to communication networks, the consultant had been unable to contact their firm or seek further assistance.
Outcome
Bond Rees quickly confirmed the consultant’s location and condition, relaying this critical information to the renewable energy firm in the UK. The firm coordinated with local contacts to arrange for safe transport back to Dakar, where the consultant received medical attention for dehydration and exhaustion. Although fatigued from the ordeal, the consultant was in good health and able to continue their work after a short period of rest.
Why Bond Rees?
This case highlighted Bond Rees’s expertise in locating missing persons in remote and challenging environments like rural Senegal. By combining digital forensics, local intelligence, and effective on-the-ground investigations, Bond Rees ensured the swift and safe recovery of the missing renewable energy consultant. Our commitment to supporting businesses and safeguarding their personnel, even in the most unpredictable and isolated locations, remains steadfast and dependable.
