Overview

• Cocaine seizures in the Sahel have increased dramatically, with over 1,466 kilograms captured in 2022, compared to an average of 13 kilograms annually between 2013 and 2020.
• The Sahel's geographical position makes it a key transit point for drugs from South America to Europe, exacerbating local conflict and global drug flow.
• Armed groups in the region are financially benefiting from the drug trade, further destabilizing the area already troubled by recent coups.
• Corruption and money laundering are significant factors enabling the drug trade, involving political elites and community leaders.
• The UN calls for urgent, coordinated international action to dismantle drug trafficking networks in the Sahel.