News World Africa emerges as drug trafficking hub

Africa emerges as drug trafficking hub

Harare: Endemic corruption, poverty and disorganisation, have made some parts of Africa new drug hubs.Reports say, a weak criminal justice system boosts such activities here.Since 2004, Africa has become a major hub for cocaine trafficking,

africa emerges as drug trafficking hub africa emerges as drug trafficking hub
Harare: Endemic corruption, poverty and disorganisation, have made some parts of Africa new drug hubs.






Reports say, a weak criminal justice system boosts such activities here.

Since 2004, Africa has become a major hub for cocaine trafficking, storage and distribution. It caters for between 12% and 25% of European demand: 21 tonnes out of 129 in 2009, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The UN office said in east Africa the seizures increased almost 10-fold since 2009.

For African police, customs officers and judges, the battle against trafficking is almost impossible: the gulf between their resources and the traffickers' is vast.

The police in Guinea-Bissau sometimes cannot put petrol in their patrol vehicles. That crushes even the most enthusiastic determination, and criminals exploit ethnic and cultural networks, strong diasporas (of Nigerians, for example), language communities and other interests.

 

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