Drug trafficking in the Lake Chad region and the Sahel is a growing problem, fueling crime and instability. According to Ousmane Touré, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) representative for Nigeria, this illegal trade generates about $400 billion every year for criminal groups.
Touré shared this alarming information at the Lake Chad Governors’ Forum on January 31 in Maiduguri, Borno State. He explained how the drug trade is connected to other crimes like arms smuggling, human trafficking, and money laundering.
Drug trafficking is not just about selling illegal drugs—it funds many other criminal activities. Criminal networks use drug money to buy and smuggle weapons, recruit people into illegal activities, and even support terrorist groups.
Touré also revealed that criminals are expanding their operations by linking the drug trade to illegal gold mining and other resource exploitation, especially in areas affected by conflict. This makes it even harder to fight drug-related crimes.
One major challenge in fighting drug trafficking is proving its link to terrorism. Touré stressed the need for more research to gather strong evidence and understand the full impact of the drug trade on security.
To stop drug trafficking in the Lake Chad region, Touré suggested:
- Stronger border controls to prevent drug smuggling.
- Better cooperation between countries to fight crime together.
- Reforming law enforcement agencies to reduce corruption and improve their ability to tackle organized crime.
