Worrisome development of drug trafficking in the Indian Ocean
Anti-drug graffiti in the streets of Victoria, Mahe Island, Seychelles, November 18, 2019. According to official statistics, 5,000 of the 95,000 inhabitants of the archipelago are affected by drug addiction. the heroine.
AFP - YASUYOSHI CHIBA
Text by: Jeanne Richard Follow
8 mins
Heroin, cocaine, cannabis, but also more recently synthetic cannabis and methamphetamines: drug trafficking and consumption are increasing and diversifying in the Indian Ocean islands, particularly in Madagascar, the Seychelles and Mauritius.
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The NGO Global initiative against transnational organized crime has investigated and published
a report
titled
Changing Tides: The Evolution of the Illicit Drug Trade in the Western Indian Ocean
and Their Evolution in Recent Years in this area between Africa and Asia.
Aside from cannabis, the main and oldest drug market in the islands is heroin.
It passes through what is called the “Route du Sud”.
From Afghanistan where it is produced, it then travels by sea along the African coast or directly to the Seychelles and Madagascar.
Often by plane, it can then fly to Europe.
But above all, local consumption is important: in Mauritius since the 1970s, and in the Seychelles since the early 2000s. The archipelago, known for its turquoise waters has one of the highest rates of heroin consumption in the world.
The island is large, difficult to control, the coast is very porous, and governance has weaknesses.
All this makes that Madagascar is conveniently used as a base for trafficking.
Indian Ocean Q / A DOSSIER EVENING 11/06 - Q / A Global initiative "Mada hub of drug trafficking"
The emergence of Madagascar as the main hub is largely ignored and goes unnoticed, underlines Lucia Bird, analyst and lead author of the report.
The island is vulnerable due to several factors.
First of all, its geographical position, close to the continent.
And as some drug disembarkation sites on the “Route du Sud” have been pushed back, Madagascar is a practical alternative.
The island is large, difficult to control, the coast is very porous, and governance has weaknesses.
All this makes that Madagascar is conveniently used as a base for trafficking.
Especially since the very great demand for heroin in Seychelles and Mauritius has also encouraged this inter-island market.
Traffic diversification
Next is the cocaine market.
Much less important.
The white powder is imported directly by air from Latin America to the countries of southern Africa or directly to Madagascar.
Cannabis is cultivated locally.
Madagascar is a large producer which then exports to the other islands.
But what the Global initiative study shows is not only an increase in trafficking and local consumption, but also a diversification of the drugs circulating in the area.
In recent years, the synthetic cannabis market has exploded, particularly in Mauritius, Mayotte and the Comoros.
The precursors of this drug are bought on the internet in China, and often imported by post.
Methamphetamine has also made a recent appearance.
Produced in Afghanistan, it also takes the “Southern Route”, like the heroine.
For the NGO, this is a trend to watch, because on the African continent the increase in the consumption of methamphetamines in recent years "
has done a lot of harm to communities
".
Changing tides: a report by the NGO Global initiative against transnational organized crime.
© GIATOC
Significant illicit markets
In Madagascar, Mauritius and the Seychelles, these are significant illicit markets, adds the researcher for whom there is a significant degree of organization. “
In Madagascar, it is estimated that the market is controlled by a small number of large traffickers, for heroin, cocaine and methamphetamines
.
Sources within the Malagasy intelligence services estimate that these bigwigs could number only five. And that they are not of Malagasy nationality, but come from the African continent.
"
A difference from other islands, where the markets are controlled by locals.
“
One of the important points, when we investigated the people involved, is that the increase in this trafficking has been made possible by endemic corruption and the support of people in high places in state administrations.
"
Local consumption on the rise
For the organization, Madagascar is thus becoming a major hub in the region.
On the Big Island,
the number of consumers is increasing
, and according to analyst Lucia Bird, “
we should look at the phenomenon now, before the drug market becomes too large.
"
Global initiative therefore calls for awareness of the extent of this trafficking which has repercussions in all layers of society and within the State.
► To reread: Africa: the drug market is exploding, state of play
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