The Heroin Coast: A Political Economy Along the Eastern African Seaboard

Mombasa Port on Kenya's Indian Ocean coast.

Mombasa Port on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast. (Photo: Meaact Photo / Stuart Price)

East and southern Africa have become main transit routes for the heroin and cocaine trade from Afghanistan toward Europe. This became possible due to the growing entanglement of criminal networks and political systems in the region. The drug market–protected by political elites– has created a growing consumer base in these countries as well, with which public health services are poorly equipped to address. A regional move toward political financial transparency and support for law enforcement is necessary.

Read the Report (PDF)

Security Topics:  Counter Narcotics