The UNODC has reported that West Africa serves as a transit zone for cocaine moving from South America to Europe, with notable production origins in Peru, Colombia, and Bolivia, involving a transatlantic journey.
In Senegal, the military authorities announced the seizure of nearly 3 tons of pure cocaine by the navy off the coast on Tuesday, November 28. The cargo was intercepted by a patrol vessel during the night of November 26-27, 2023.
"The FOULADOU patrol vessel seized nearly 3 tons of pure cocaine aboard a ship intercepted 150 kilometers offshore. The boat and its cargo were brought back on November 28, 2023, to the Admiral Faye Gassama Naval Base and handed over to the competent authorities," reported the Senegalese Navy.
This seizure, considered one of the largest in the country, rekindles concerns about drug trafficking in West Africa and its impact on a region grappling with significant political, socio-economic, and especially security challenges in its Sahelian part. Experts from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) argue that drug trafficking in Africa is a "true vicious circle," fueling organized crime and tensions among armed groups while financing them.
According to data released by the UNODC last June, 30 to 40 tons of cocaine and heroin transit through West Africa annually, with a value estimated at $1.25 billion in Europe. Between 2019 and 2023, the institution reports that 80 tons of cocaine were seized in West Africa, mainly in seven countries, including Cape Verde, Senegal, and Guinea.
BYD to install 200-300 EV chargers in South Africa by 2026 Fast-charging stations powered by grid...
Drones to aid soil health, pest control, and input efficiency High costs, skills gap challenge ac...
• Parliament approves Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill 2025 to regulate digital assets• Central ...
• The five-year plan allocates 388 billion pulas to boost growth and jobs.• Focus areas include tran...
• The Bank urges Nigeria to raise excise taxes on alcohol, tobacco, and sugary drinks.• Current rate...
Lagos launches OMI-EKO project to boost water transport Funded by AFD, EU, EIB; 75 electric ferries planned Aims to ease congestion, cut delays in...
Afreximbank’s FEDA has led a $75 million equity investment into Spiro, Africa’s largest e-motorcycle deal, expanding the fleet from 60,000 to...
(FEDA) - The Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), the development impact investment arm of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), has...
World Bank commits $2B to Uganda for development projects Funding resumes after 2023 suspension over anti-LGBT law Uganda also negotiating new...
Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, is often described as Africa’s modern city for its remarkable architectural heritage and forward-thinking urban design....
The Great Zimbabwe National Monument stands as one of southern Africa’s most iconic archaeological sites, a silent witness to a thriving African...