Until recently illicit drug use and trade in Africa was not of major regional or international concern. Global changes and recurrent internal conflicts have impacted the region in such a way that illicit drugs have now become an issue. Internal economic, social and political instability have created conditions that foster drug use and drug trafficking yet, there is little data on these new illicit drug trends. 

Civil strife, war, poverty, crime and corruption are significant barriers for controlling drugs in Africa. Most African nations are enduring worsening social and economic conditions and to focus on the drug trade would direct the little available funds away from other pressing issues. Overall, reported drug arrests across the continent are relatively low, for example, there were only 5 arrests for heroin possession in Ethiopia between 1994 and 1999. The estimates for marijuana arrests are much higher. However, it is difficult to know the true figures since the use of more expensive illicit substances such as heroin has, until recently, been restricted to the ex-patriot communities, and those caught selling or using illicit drugs can, in most cases, bribe police officers and judges. The total amount of heroin seized in Africa remains small, although recent times has seen a rise in seizures, particularly in Eastern and Western Africa through which heroin from India, Pakistan and Thailand is smuggled. Most this heroin is destined for illicit markets in Europe.

Illegal drug transiting surpasses other illegal trafficking across Africa and under-resourced customs officials achieve little in stemming the flow. Most trafficked drugs arrive concealed in shipment container cargo to Eastern Africa where many of the countries lack the necessary governmental structures to deal with the problem. Western African syndicates are experienced in smuggling cannabis and heroin and have recently extended operations to other African countries where drug couriers and smugglers are employed and possibly also to Latin America.

Cannabis is the most widely produced and used drug on the continent, but in many African countries, the extent of the area under cannabis cultivation is not known. Outside South Africa the majority of the population lives in rural areas and makes its livelihood from small-holdings often cultivating small cannabis crops for supplementary income. The inability of governments to regulate legitimate or illegitimate crops and the poverty of most of these countries prevents successful policing. Although there have been improvements in Morocco’s drug enforcement attempts, the country remains a major source of cannabis resin destined mainly for Western Europe. Reportedly, around 70-80 percent of the cannabis resin seized in Europe and about one half of the cannabis resin seized worldwide in 1999 originated in Morocco. South Africa is one of the world’s largest producers of cannabis. Most of the cannabis produced in South Africa is sold and used domestically although the amount smuggled into Europe and the United States continues to increase.

In most countries of Africa, drug abuse appears to be rising, the age of initiation to drug abuse is falling and the number of women and children abusing drugs is growing. The rise in heroin injection is a particularly worrisome since Africa has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS in the world. After cannabis, which is often used as a cheaper substitute for alcohol, the second most commonly used illicit drug is the sedative methaqualone. Africa is said to hold the largest market for methaqualone in the world and the drug is both manufactured locally and trafficked from India. Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are available over the counter as there is no proper control over pharmaceutical products. Although Africa serves mainly as a transit point for smuggling heroin and cocaine, the falling prices of those substances in cities across sub-Saharan Africa have resulted in increased use, particularly in areas where unemployment rates are high. There has been an increase in educational preventative measures in schools yet funding for treatment programs and large scale public health measures is not readily available.

Interregional cooperation between the governments of Africa is mounting and with pressure from international anti-drug agencies some African nations have reformed their drug policies to include harsher punishments for drug offences such as large fines and capital punishment. Still, enforcement, treatment and prevention actions within Africa remain difficult and it has been predicted that Africa’s drug problems will expand.