Drug misuse and trafficking have been ongoing issues in Central Africa for several decades. The region has become a transit point for illegal drugs, particularly for cocaine and heroin, en route to other markets in Europe and Asia. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Central Africa has seen a significant increase in the trafficking of these drugs in recent years. For example, in 2019, UNODC reported that seizures of cocaine in Central Africa had risen by over 400% since 2016, and that the region had become an increasingly important transit point for the drug.
Drug trafficking in Central Africa is often linked to organized crime and corruption. Criminal networks, often operating across borders, are involved in the production, transportation, and distribution of drugs in the region. According to the UNODC, these networks have been able to exploit weak governance and security in the region to establish themselves and operate with relative impunity. This has had a detrimental impact on the region’s security and development, as well as on the lives of individuals and communities affected by drug abuse and trafficking.
In addition to drug trafficking, there is also a growing problem of drug abuse among young people in Central Africa, particularly in urban areas. According to a study by the World Health Organization (WHO), the most commonly used drugs in the region include cannabis, traditional drugs, and prescription drugs. However, there are also reports of increasing use of harder drugs such as cocaine and heroin. This problem is exacerbated by a lack of resources and capacity within the law enforcement and healthcare systems, which makes it difficult for authorities to effectively address the issue.
Efforts to tackle drug misuse and trafficking in Central Africa have been undertaken by national governments and international organizations. However, these efforts have been hindered by a lack of resources, capacity, and coordination, as well as by the complex nature of the problem. The UNODC, for example, has been working with Central African countries to strengthen their law enforcement and judicial capacities to combat drug trafficking and organized crime, as well as to provide support for the prevention and treatment of drug abuse.
In conclusion, drug misuse and trafficking are ongoing issues in Central Africa, with the region becoming an increasingly important transit point for illegal drugs. The problem is linked to organized crime and corruption, and it has had a detrimental impact on the region’s security and development. Additionally, there is a growing problem of drug abuse among young people in the region, particularly in urban areas, which is exacerbated by a lack of resources and capacity within the law enforcement and healthcare systems.
Here are some references that provide information on the history of drug misuse and trafficking in Central Africa:
-United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). (2019). World Drug Report 2019. Retrieved from https://www.unodc.org/wdr2019/prelaunch/WDR19_Booklet_2_EXSUM.pdf
-United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). (2020). Central Africa: Drug trafficking and related organized crime. Retrieved from https://www.unodc.org/cntryprofiles/centralafrica/index.html
-United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). (2020). Central Africa: Drug trafficking and related organized crime. Retrieved from https://www.unodc.org/cntryprofiles/centralafrica/index.html
-World Health Organization (WHO). (2017). Substance use in Africa: An overview. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/africa_overview_2017.pdf
-Maroyi, A. (2015). Substance abuse in Africa: A review of the literature. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 47(4), 245–259. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2015.1054198
-Decker, S., & Pyrooz, D. (2012). Transnational street gangs and African youth. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 28(1), 89–108. https://doi.org/10.1177/1043986211409270
These references provide information on the history of drug misuse and trafficking in Central Africa, and the challenges and efforts to address the issue.