CRIMINAL ORGANISATIONS in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin regions are raking in an estimated $400 billion annually from drug trafficking, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The UNODC Country Representative for Nigeria, Ousmane Touré, disclosed the alarming statistics during the closing session of the 5th Lake Chad Governors’ Forum in Maiduguri. He warned that drug trafficking has become deeply intertwined with arms smuggling, human trafficking, and money laundering, further destabilising an already fragile region.
“The drug trade in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin has evolved into a highly organised and sophisticated network,” Touré said. “Criminal groups are now diversifying their operations, creating complex value chains that connect the narcotics business with other forms of transnational organised crime.”
The Explainer gathered that these illicit networks extend from West Africa through the Maghreb and into Europe, with trafficking routes linking the region to South America and Asia. UNODC reports indicate that vast quantities of cocaine, heroin, and synthetic drugs pass through the region en route to global markets, with Nigeria, Chad, Mali, and Niger being key transit points.
Data from the The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) has extensively documented the Sahel’s role as a central hub for heroin and cocaine trafficking. Their 2023 report on human smuggling and trafficking in North Africa and the Sahel provides detailed insights into these dynamics.
Additionally, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported a significant increase in drug seizures in the Sahel. In 2022, authorities seized 1,466 kilograms of cocaine in countries including Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso, and Niger, compared to an average of 13 kilograms per year between 2015 and 2020. By June 2023, Mauritania alone had seized 2.3 tons of cocaine.
The Explainer noted that illicit drug profits are increasingly being laundered through gold mining operations in conflict zones. Touré pointed out that criminal syndicates exploit gold reserves in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to finance further illicit activities.
“The intersection of drug trafficking and illegal gold mining creates a dangerous cycle,” he explained. “Drug money is used to fund armed groups that control mining sites, while gold revenues are channelled back into narcotics production and distribution.”
According to a 2024 UNODC report, an estimated $2.3 billion worth of illicit gold is smuggled out of West Africa each year, with a significant portion linked to drug cartels and terrorist organisations.
Agnieszka Torek from the European Union Delegation raised concerns about the implementation of counter-trafficking initiatives.
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“The EU remains committed to fighting illicit money flows, but more needs to be done on the ground,” she said.
The Explainer gathered that weak border controls, corruption, and inadequate judicial frameworks have made it difficult to combat drug-related crimes effectively. Reports suggest that in several countries, elements within security forces have been implicated in drug trafficking networks.
Chadian diplomat Omar Kataib highlighted the need for stronger legal deterrents.
“If we are serious about tackling this crisis, we must introduce harsher penalties, including life imprisonment, for those involved—whether they are civilians or members of the security forces,” he said.
Beyond the economic and security implications, the drug trade is wreaking havoc on local communities. Touré warned that youth and women in the region are particularly vulnerable to substance abuse and exploitation by traffickers.
“The socio-economic impact of drug trafficking extends far beyond the criminal networks,” he noted. “We must prioritise prevention strategies and invest in rehabilitation programmes to address addiction and protect vulnerable populations.”