The
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says Nigeria, and West
and Central Africa face “disruptive and destabilising” new trends
regarding drug trafficking, drug use and other crimes. The Executive
Director of UNODC, Yury Fedotov, said this while briefing the UN
Security Council session, presided by Côte d’Ivoire. The briefing was
the council’s first thematic meeting on ‘Drug Trafficking and its Threat
to Stability, Peace and Security’, since December 2013. Fedotov said
the UNODC’s 2018 World Drug Report shows that West and Central Africa,
along with North African countries, accounted for 87 per cent of
pharmaceutical opioids seized globally. The UNODC chief said: “This is
largely due to rising use of tramadol, an opioid painkiller that is
widely trafficked for non-medical use in the region". “Africa, along
with Asia, also saw the largest rises in cocaine seizures, suggesting
that cocaine trafficking and consumption have spread to these
markets.Through UNODC AIRCOP, which works in several African airports,
we know that heroin seizures are on the rise across the region with
Lagos, Accra and Cotonou airports high on the list, closely followed by
Bamako, Lomé and Ouagadougou.Methamphetamine seizures have now almost
reached the same level as cocaine seizures, with Lagos and Cotonou being
the main airports concerned. Recently, an increased number of seizures
of precursors such as Ephedrine and Phenacetine has been recorded at
both airports, which may indicate the existence of new laboratories
producing psychoactive substances.’’ The head of UNODC noted increasing
transiting of opiates through West Africa en route to European and
North American markets. “UNODC is registering new alarming trends on
drug trafficking in West and Central Africa with disruptive and
destabilising effects on governance, security, economic growth and
public health,” he said. Drug use is also rising across the region,
“representing a serious threat to public health,” according to the UN
crime fighting chief. Fedotov noted that the agency estimated that in
2016, there were more than 34 million cannabis users and 1.8 million
cocaine users in West and Central Africa. Only one in 18 drug users with
addiction issues have access to medical treatment, Fedotov regretted.
At the same time, he said, the region is grappling with many other
crime-related security threats, including arms trafficking, money
laundering, human trafficking, cybercrime and maritime piracy as well as
threats posed by terrorism.UN Security Council raises concern over drug abuse in Nigeria
The
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says Nigeria, and West
and Central Africa face “disruptive and destabilising” new trends
regarding drug trafficking, drug use and other crimes. The Executive
Director of UNODC, Yury Fedotov, said this while briefing the UN
Security Council session, presided by Côte d’Ivoire. The briefing was
the council’s first thematic meeting on ‘Drug Trafficking and its Threat
to Stability, Peace and Security’, since December 2013. Fedotov said
the UNODC’s 2018 World Drug Report shows that West and Central Africa,
along with North African countries, accounted for 87 per cent of
pharmaceutical opioids seized globally. The UNODC chief said: “This is
largely due to rising use of tramadol, an opioid painkiller that is
widely trafficked for non-medical use in the region". “Africa, along
with Asia, also saw the largest rises in cocaine seizures, suggesting
that cocaine trafficking and consumption have spread to these
markets.Through UNODC AIRCOP, which works in several African airports,
we know that heroin seizures are on the rise across the region with
Lagos, Accra and Cotonou airports high on the list, closely followed by
Bamako, Lomé and Ouagadougou.Methamphetamine seizures have now almost
reached the same level as cocaine seizures, with Lagos and Cotonou being
the main airports concerned. Recently, an increased number of seizures
of precursors such as Ephedrine and Phenacetine has been recorded at
both airports, which may indicate the existence of new laboratories
producing psychoactive substances.’’ The head of UNODC noted increasing
transiting of opiates through West Africa en route to European and
North American markets. “UNODC is registering new alarming trends on
drug trafficking in West and Central Africa with disruptive and
destabilising effects on governance, security, economic growth and
public health,” he said. Drug use is also rising across the region,
“representing a serious threat to public health,” according to the UN
crime fighting chief. Fedotov noted that the agency estimated that in
2016, there were more than 34 million cannabis users and 1.8 million
cocaine users in West and Central Africa. Only one in 18 drug users with
addiction issues have access to medical treatment, Fedotov regretted.
At the same time, he said, the region is grappling with many other
crime-related security threats, including arms trafficking, money
laundering, human trafficking, cybercrime and maritime piracy as well as
threats posed by terrorism.
