West Africa is facing an emerging epidemic that threatens to further destabilise the region: the global narcotics trafficking trade. The political economy of global drug trafficking has now shifted towards the fragile states of West Africa as a staging point and transit stop in the shipment of illegal drugs around the world. Cooperation between Western law enforcement agencies and traditional staging areas within the Caribbean Islands has resulted in drug traffickers turning towards West Africa for the same reasons that continuously threaten the state, its institutions and the consolidation of the rule of law. Simply put, the drug trade is turning to West Africa because of its porous borders, weak state institutions, lack of rule of law, endemic poverty and subsequent propensity towards corruption within all levels of the State.

West Africa’s strategic location as well as its historical and cultural linkages with Europe, have positioned the region as an ideal location for drug traffickers to stage the shipment of illegal narcotics for consumption in European and US markets. Both cocaine traffickers from Latin America seeking market access into Europe and heroin and opiate producers in Asia supplying the markets in the US have begun to increasingly utilise West Africa for its strategic advantage in the shipment of illegal narcotics.

West Africa’s role in the global drug trade has only recently come to light, through a number of high profile seizures of illegal narcotics throughout the region. In April 2007, authorities seized 635 kg of cocaine destined for Europe in Guinea-Bissau, a small portion of what is believed to have been 2.5 tonnes of cocaine that was airlifted out of the country before authorities arrived. The seizure comes after 674 kg of cocaine was confiscated and then disappeared while in police custody in Guinea-Bissau in 2006. In Senegal over the course of the last 12 months in two separate incidences, a total of 2.5 tonnes of cocaine was confiscated. Further, 630 kg of cocaine was discovered abandoned in an aeroplane some 500 km north of Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania.

The prevalence of trafficked drugs through the region is on the increase with seizures of illegal narcotics reported by law enforcement agencies increasing from 267 kg’s in 2003 to 1.8 tonnes in 2004 and 2 tonnes throughout 2005 - in 2006 it is estimated that the number exceeded 14 tonnes of cocaine seized throughout the entire continent, however statistics are not yet available. Unfortunately, the statistics are only available for the seizure of illegal drugs, painting a grim outlook on the increase in actual trafficked narcotics throughout the region. It is estimated that the seized narcotics only represent 20% of all trafficked drugs through the region. A staggering amount, more so due to security analysts estimating that within Guinea-Bissau alone more than US$ 150 million worth of cocaine flows through the country every month, a country rated 173 on the United Nations Human Development Index.

The increasing levels of drug trafficking throughout the region is facilitating the formation of ‘narco-states’; with Guinea-Bissau being labelled as Africa’s first. Fundamentally, the trade in illegal narcotics is highly lucrative for individuals and officials in some of the world’s most impoverished states. It is estimated that the profit on a 600 kg shipment of cocaine from Africa to Europe is around US$ 15 million, 14% of the annual export revenues and three times the level of foreign direct investment in Guinea-Bissau! Weak institutions and porous borders have created the ideal location for traffickers to stage their entry into European and US markets. Guinea-Bissau for example, has 350 km of jagged coastline as well as a large archipelago of uninhabited islands that are virtually impossible for the countries’ impoverished law enforcement agencies to monitor. The fact of the matter is that without assistance, Guinea-Bissau, and West Africa is at the mercy of wealthy, well-armed and technologically advanced narcotics traffickers. Further entrenching corruption and eroding state institutions, impoverished State officials, Government agencies and individuals will find it increasingly difficult to withstand the lure of large payoffs in return for the safe passage of illegal narcotics and traffickers.

The West African region has been plagued by conflict, weak state institutions, fragile democracies, endemic corruption and rampant poverty. The introduction of the lucrative global narcotics trade to the region will have a devastating effect on the consolidation of democracy and state institutions, whilst further increasing the myriad of social problems facing the regions States. The political economy of narcotics trafficking has proven time and again that politicians and State officials have been able to benefit and reap large profits through turning a blind eye to the activities of well organised criminal syndicates. Corruption within Africa’s weak States has continued to flourish and thrive as democracy has attempted to take root - providing a fertile landscape for traffickers and organised criminal syndicates. Further, the introduction of the global narcotics trade has the potential to serve as a catalyst for conflict further destabilising an already fragile security situation through empowering individuals and groups with cash, weapons and a means for mobilisation.

Although there is not believed to be a direct involvement of international terrorist organisations within the West African drug routes, it is a potential source of both domestic and international terrorist financing if not brought under control. It is well documented that the Taliban in Afghanistan are utilising the illegal production and trade in heroin to finance ongoing insurgency campaigns, and it is further speculated that Al-Qaeda has involvement in the global narcotics trade, particularly with regards to the trade in heroin and other opiates. Although the vast majority of drugs seized in West Africa originated from the Americas bound for European markets it is believed that the region is also being used to transport narcotics from the poppy fields of the east, providing necessary financing for Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. The other concern is that influx of money and weapons in support of the drug trade will contribute to an already fragile region through channelling resources to armed insurgents and dissident groups in the region; fostering the growth of domestic terrorist networks as well as armed criminal networks and insurgent groups.

The use of West Africa as a transit stop and staging point for the global narcotics trade is a worrying development that has the potential to seriously destabilise an already fragile region. With the dramatic rise in seizures of illegal narcotics indicates a devastating trend which is beginning to take hold, analysts can only speculate as to the extent of the growth of illegal trade flowing through the region - all that is really known however is that the number is high and on the increase. Without immediate intervention and assistance, West Africa’s states will succumb to the mercy of the global trade in illegal narcotics, further inhibiting the slow process towards the consolidation of democracy, governance and peace.