Story by Sharon Therien  |

There is a long history of illegal cocaine moving from South and Central America to North America, yet within the last couple of decades, the trade has at least in part been shifting to Europe by means of West Africa. Plans may be bringing more of a drug presence to the area over time, affecting each West African country’s economy, politics and society as a whole.

Changes to the Drug Trade

In the journal African Affairs, Stephen Ellis points out that West Africa has been involved in the trade of drugs aside from cocaine for a long time, going back to the 1950s. Even currently, there is some heroin coming to North America from Asia through West Africa, and West Africa sends its own cannabis-based drugs to other areas. Also, people in the region have increasingly been creating Ecstasy and other stimulants.

But the cocaine trade through West Africa is a more recent trend although it has been going on for over a decade. Since its start, the cocaine trade problem has been escalating and become widespread. The Economist cites the UN that $1.25 billion of cocaine goes through West Africa on an annual basis. The cocaine trade through this area seems to be growing to further the problems of the area and create new ones.

Ellis explains that certain factors have been changing the direction of the cocaine trade. These include an overabundance of cocaine in North America and the influence of drug gangs in Mexico.

The Africa Economic Development Institute, or AEDI, adds BBC News information that another reason for the increase in trade through West Africa is the effectiveness of U.S. and British methods to cut down on trade through previous routes, especially through the Caribbean.

The general goal of this new route is to send the drugs through West Africa to a market in Europe. Nonetheless, there has been increasing drug use and addiction in West Africa as well because of this drug trade.

The Right Conditions

By entering West Africa, Ellis notes that the drug industry has counted on the problems the region already had, “making use of West Africa’s conducive political environment and the existence of well-developed West African smuggling networks.”

Ellis explains that West Africa has the right conditions for the drug trade. While many area officials do not want the trade and worry about its effects on the region, there is “a political and social environment that is generally suitable for the drug trade.” Ellis lists these factors in particular:

• An environment with bribes and politician involvement in drugs
• Acceptance of smuggling
• Ineffective law enforcement

The AEDI backs up this idea of West Africa having the right conditions for drug trading to flourish. It quotes Columbian economist Francisco Thoumi saying that illegal moneymaking activities thrive in areas that do not have strong laws and enforcement or strong social norms that keep people in line. The AEDI applies this comment to West Africa, noting that the area does not have strong law enforcement because of corruption, with a lack of enough food and jobs affecting the situation.

Social Problems Resulting From the Drug Trade

This shift to trading illegal drugs through West Africa is creating and furthering problems for the area. The problems could grow for West African countries as cocaine traders from South and Central America have been moving to West Africa and bringing some of their business to the area.

Already, Ellis says, “There is evidence that drug money is funding political campaigns and affecting political relations in several West African countries.” There is international concern that West Africa could become like Mexico with the illegal drug industry heavily tied into its political system and society, and with the resulting problems and violence.

The AEDI says that violence has already gone up significantly with the growth of the drug trade. Plus, the drug trade blocks economic growth that would benefit countries because it creates a dangerous environment where legal businesses don’t want to be. The AEDI also notes, “The colossal profits that are gained from the drug trade can be used to fund criminal and violent enterprises in the area that can worsen the already instable region.”

The drug trade is also creating a health problem in West Africa as more people in the region are using the drugs being trafficked. Africanews explains that West African youth are using drugs in increasing amounts, and that traffickers have been going after the African middle class as customers instead of only moving the drugs through Africa to Europe.

The increase in drug use in the area has resulted in the problems that drug addiction can cause to individuals, families and society. For instance, problems can include addicted people losing jobs and not contributing to their families and the economy, theft to pay for drugs and health problems associated with drug use and withdrawal.

The UN and agencies from other countries have been helping local authorities seize drugs and try to change the course of this drug trade problem. Nonetheless, The Economist explains that not enough is happening because corruption is still prevalent in the area. In addition, “Addicts are stigmatized and public facilities are ill-equipped or unwilling to provide treatment.”

Overall, the increasing trade of cocaine through West Africa has become a significant problem to the area that is growing. If the region is not able to change this trend in a positive way, it could mean societies based on violence, illegal activities and corruption.

Sources:

https://openaccess.leidenuniv.nl/bitstream/handle/1887/13818/ASC-071342346-361-01.pdf?sequence=2

http://www.africaecon.org/index.php/africa_business_reports/read/70

http://www.africanews.com/2016/03/02/un-drug-trafficking-on-the-rise-in-west-africa/

http://www.economist.com/blogs/baobab/2014/06/drug-trafficking-west-africa

Advertisement