The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has released her latest report on the transportation and use of hard drugs across the world, revealing Africa’s highest cocaine transit points.
Per the report, the illegal shipment of cocaine comes from South America en route to Europe and Brazil. It was also discovered that Africa in general, especially the Western region, is a major passage point for the drug.
Below are the countries that top the list of Africa’s Highest Cocaine Transit Points:
Nigeria emerged number one in the list of Africa’s highest cocaine transit points as presented in the latest World Drug Report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Aside this, Nigeria also ranked highest in the figures of Cannabis seizures in the African continent. Despite the determined clampdown and campaign spearheaded by government authorities against the trade, it was reported that drug traffickers become more daring and divisive in the business as the day go by.
According to the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos has continued to be among others, one of the major transit points for cocaine transportation in the popular West African country.
The UNODC report ranked South Africa number two among the major transit points for cocaine trade in Africa. It also named the country among the major destinations for the drug trade in the world at large.
Research reveals that South Africa initially became an important element in the global illicit drugs trade at the end of apartheid. This was as a result of reduced border controls due to the evaporation of the authorities fighting against the African National Congress. Since then up till now, South Africa has continued to rise in the list of top transit destinations for hard drugs, especially, cocaine.
Among the named African countries, the 2016 World Drug Report by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), ranked Ghana the third cocaine transit destination after Nigeria and South Africa.
The report also named Ghana among the top four countries in Africa reported as the source of cannabis herb to Europe.
Roger Vanderpuije, the Greater-Accra Regional Commander at the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), disclosed this at the 2017 World Drug Day celebration in Accra.
Speaking at the occasion, he urged government to take the appropriate measures to curb this menace, which include passing the Narcotics Control Commission Bill 2015. This according to him, will give NACOB more powers to effectively do their work.
Continuing, Mr. Vanderpuije pointed out that La Dade-Kotopon community was chosen to mark this year’s World Drug Day as a result of intelligence picked on the ground about the increasing rate at which the youth are engaging in illicit drug abuse, especially cannabis.
According to him, the office has started sensitisation programmes in the municipaliity by engaging the schools, various churches and the general public in the community. The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of La Dade-Kotopon, Mrs Gladys Mann-Dedery, also pledged to partner NACOB to help put a stop to drug abuse in her municipality.
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