Africa Becoming an Increasingly Central Hub for Latin American Drug Cartels

Africa has for decades been a transit point for Latin American cocaine making its way to European markets. The explosion in demand for cocaine and synthetic stimulants (notably methamphetamine), coupled with growing interdiction efforts in the Western Hemisphere, has resulted in a significant scaling up of Latin American cartel operations in Africa in recent years. While the organizational arrangements between Latin American and African criminal networks often remain opaque, the growing influence of Latin American criminal organizations in Africa is having far-reaching implications for security, the enrichment of African criminal organizations, the viability of licit markets, and accountable governance on the continent. Africa Center for Strategic Studies