By George M.O. Williams
A new report has revealed that drug traffickers are purchasing protection from elements within state institutions across West Africa, enabling the region to become a major hub for the global cocaine trade.
According to the Global Organized Crime Index 2025, published by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, traffickers view West African routes as more secure despite being longer, due to reduced risks of disruption and seizure. The report alleges that protection is provided in varying degrees by political actors, criminal justice institutions, and officials at key maritime ports and airports.
Key Drivers of Cocaine Trafficking
The study identifies five factors shaping West Africa’s role as a trans-shipment hub:
- Geography – proximity to Latin America and Europe.
- Governance gaps – weak institutions and corruption.
- Expanding transport infrastructure – improved connectivity.
- Digital and financial networks – enabling illicit flows.
- Law enforcement pressure elsewhere – pushing traffickers toward West Africa.
While geography and governance challenges are longstanding, the report notes that infrastructure growth, digital innovation, and shifting enforcement patterns have dynamically increased the region’s importance in recent years.
Strategic Location and Rising Supply
West Africa’s position between Latin American production zones and consumer markets in Europe, Türkiye, North Africa, and the Middle East makes it attractive to criminal networks. Cocaine production in Latin America has surged since 2017, reaching record levels in 2020 and continuing to rise. A growing share of this supply is now routed through Europe-bound trafficking networks, where consumption has also increased significantly.
Corruption and Expanding Profits
The report highlights corruption as a critical enabler of the trade. Limited resources and weak oversight have long facilitated illicit activity, but record-breaking profits from cocaine trafficking have expanded the resources available for bribery and protection. Authorities worldwide, including in Europe, are increasingly recognizing that the corrupting influence of cocaine profits is far greater than previously estimated.