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Organised crime, drug trafficking, terrorism: the new Achilles heel of West Africa
23/05/2008 By Amado Philip de Andrés
With growing demand for cocaine in Europe, and improved security along traditional trafficking routes, criminals are now using West Africa as a hub for their illicit trade. Countries like Guinea Bissau are off most people’s radar screens. They are poor, weak, and yet not so unstable as to attract attention.
Large individual seizures (above 100 kg) linked to cocaine trafficking in Africa, 2005-2007
"Cocaine Trafficking in West Africa"
In a region already affected by poverty and pandemics, drug money is perverting fragile economies and rotting society. Using threats and bribes, drug traffickers are infiltrating state structures and operating with impunity.
In this Comment article, Amado Philip de Andrés, the UNODC Deputy Regional Representative for West and Central Africa analyses the threat posed by organised crime, drug trafficking and terrorism in West Africa while providing a succinct account of the strategies West African States are applying with the assistance of the international community in order to address this triple menace.
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Spanish (59 kB)
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Keywords
Conflict prevention Fragile state West AfricaRelated publications
Bio author: Amado Philip de Andrés
Amado Philip de Andrés is Deputy Regional Representative for West and Central Africa of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
