https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiIb26suwRs
Sub-Saharan Africa is about to face a large increase in illicit drug users globally. According to an an ENACT organized crime project, East Africa will see the most negative consequences, as in that region the number of people using drugs will be much more than other regions. African ports are key part of this trade, as many drugs are shipped from Africa to Europe.
For almost 20 years now, many areas in Africa are becoming transit points for illicit drugs trade.
A network of maritime routes is driving this, as they spread from East and Southern African coastline, creating a corridor which is used for drugs shipments to Western Europe.
One of these, the Southern Route goes through South and East African coastal states. It is a major transit path for heroin which is shipped from Afghanistan to Europe. In this route, South African ports are being used for heroin trafficking. In fact, during September 2017, about a ton of heroin was seized in the Western Cape, which was bound for Europe, hidden in containers. In order to facilitate the trade of drugs, criminals are trying to enter positions of authority and spread their influence at the Port of Cape Town.
The Southern Route is becoming more important for drugs trade, as improved policing in the European route is increasing.