Drug Trafficking Across Africa Surges Sixfold in Two Years, AFRICOM Raises Alarm
The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has warned that illicit drug trafficking across Africa has increased more than sixfold over the past two years, describing the trend as a growing threat to regional security and stability.
The disclosure was made by Brig. Gen. Paul Filcek, AFRICOM’s Director of Logistics, during a virtual media briefing held alongside the 2026 Africa Logistics and Communications Symposium in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He said the rapid expansion of drug networks highlights the need for stronger cooperation among African nations and international partners to combat transnational organised crime.
Filcek explained that criminal organisations are increasingly exploiting weak border controls, political instability and fragile institutions to move illicit drugs across the continent. He noted that the proceeds from drug trafficking often finance other forms of organised crime, including terrorism, arms smuggling and human trafficking, creating broader security challenges for many African countries. According to him, tackling the problem requires coordinated intelligence sharing, improved border management and stronger law enforcement collaboration.
The warning comes amid growing concerns that Africa, particularly the West African and Sahel regions, is becoming a major transit corridor for cocaine and other narcotics destined for Europe and other international markets. Security experts have repeatedly cautioned that trafficking networks are becoming more sophisticated, using established smuggling routes and taking advantage of governance gaps to expand their operations. The increasing drug trade has also contributed to rising local drug abuse and strengthened criminal syndicates across several countries.
AFRICOM stressed that addressing the challenge will require more than military action alone. Filcek urged governments to invest in stronger judicial systems, anti-corruption measures and economic opportunities that reduce the vulnerability of communities to organised crime. He also called for greater regional cooperation to dismantle trafficking networks before they become further entrenched across the continent.
The latest assessment underscores the growing complexity of Africa’s security landscape, where drug trafficking increasingly intersects with terrorism, insurgency and other transnational crimes. As governments intensify efforts to curb the illicit trade, security officials say sustained collaboration between African states and global partners will be essential to disrupting criminal networks and preventing further expansion of the narcotics economy.
