{
  "id": 19841379,
  "title": "West Africa, a new hub of global cocaine trafficking",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/west-africa-a-new-hub-of-global-cocaine-trafficking",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-13T17:14:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "KahawaTungu",
    "slug": "kahawatungu",
    "url": "https://kahawatungu.com/west-africa-a-new-hub-of-global-cocaine-trafficking/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "West Africa has emerged as a significant hub for global cocaine trafficking, according to a report by AFP. In July, Liberian police seized four tonnes of cocaine, valued at $317 million, highlighting the region's growing role in the cocaine trade. This route has become increasingly favored by traffickers moving drugs from producing countries in South America to Europe, where the demand for cocaine is high. President Joseph Boakai of Liberia declared that drug trafficking is one of the greatest threats facing his country, citing destruction of young lives, family breakdowns, and increased violence. Former Liberian vice president Jewel Howard-Taylor was arrested in connection with an international drug trafficking network following major drug busts.\n\nNeighbouring Sierra Leone is also a focal point for drug trafficking, with the Dutch convict Jos Leijdekkers operating there, reportedly with support from high-level officials. West African states are vulnerable to cocaine trafficking due to their strategic position between Latin America's cultivation areas and Europe's consumption markets. A report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) found that around 30 percent of the drug consumed in Europe in 2025 passed through West Africa, although the true scale remains uncertain due to the illicit nature of the trade.\n\nSeveral factors have contributed to the rise of West Africa as a drug trafficking corridor. Improvements in port infrastructure and road networks have made the region more attractive to traffickers, and its ports have become well-connected hubs. Although transporting drugs via West Africa is slower and more costly than other routes, the risk of seizure is lower due to reduced European customs scrutiny. As European controls on South American shipments have tightened, cargoes originating in West Africa have become less scrutinized. However, perceptions of high risk are changing, and efforts to enhance security are increasing.\n\nCocaine trafficking in West Africa also exacerbates corruption and undermines governance. The trade has deep implications for public services and the socio-economic development of states, as highlighted in a GI-TOC report. Additionally, cocaine often overspills from the international market to the domestic market, where smaller dealers and traffickers sometimes receive payment in kind, leading to increased domestic consumption of cheaper cocaine and crack. Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, and Mali are particularly affected, with low prices for cocaine on the local market.",
  "summary": "Dozens of cocaine packages piled up, weighing in at four tonnes and valued at $317 million — the seizure by Liberian police in July was a stark symbol of west Africa’s expanding role in the global cocaine trade. In recent years, the region has become a favoured route for traffickers moving drugs from producing countries [...] The post West Africa, a new hub of global cocaine trafficking appeared…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Human rights and Democratic futures: Reflections from West and Central Africa",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/human-rights-and-democratic-futures-reflections-from-west-and-central",
        "published": "2026-11-13T19:11:20.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}