The Ecosystem of Drug Trafficking in Africa (2nd Part)

#Opioid #smuggling, Africa at the crossroads of drug routes

Since the lockdown of the Caribbean, the Red Sea (up to the Suez Canal) fronts, and most Eurasian land routes, #Africa has become the preferred transit area for #drugs heading to #Europe.

The drug route networks in Africa have two main departure hubs: the eastern hub running from Somalia to South Africa and the western hub including the entire West African coast (from Nigeria to Morocco). These two main routes connect at the Mediterranean Sea, mixing with the old #cannabis trade routes (produced locally) in the countries located within the transit zones from the mainland to the Mediterranean coast.

Below, this map of Jeune Afrique[i] was made from the data of the 2021 World Drug Report of the UNODC and shows drug routes, main entrance countries of the South American and the Asian drugs, the different transit areas, and the different consumption markets to which they are destined (Europe, Far East, and Oceania).

After talking about the facts concerning drugs and highlighting the main routes they take across the continent to their final destinations, we will now look at the dynamics they create in the territories they cross.

[i] Marie Toulemonde, Cocaïne, héroïne, tramadol… L’Afrique plus que jamais à l’épreuve du trafic de drogues, Jeune Afrique, 22 juillet 2021. https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1206814/politique/cocaine-heroine-tramadol-lafrique-plus-que-jamais-a-lepreuve-du-trafic-de-drogue/

Maagnyeta Kodjo,

International Analyst

Defense, security, and crisis management.