Cannabis Trade Thrives in Madagascar as Poverty and Unemployment Fuel Demand

In Antananarivo, Madagascar, the lucrative cannabis trade has emerged as one of the top seizure locations in Africa, driven by small-scale farmers who cultivate the crop in remote areas using primitive methods. The harvested cannabis is then smuggled out of the country and ends up on the international market.

Factors Driving Demand

Poverty rates: High levels of poverty drive demand for illegal drugs.
Unemployment rates: Unemployment fuels the need for alternative sources of income, including criminal activities like drug trafficking.

Limited Synthetic-Drug Trade

While there is limited evidence of a significant synthetic-drug trade in Madagascar, some methamphetamine trafficking has been detected.

Organized Crime Runs Rampant in Madagascar

Madagascar’s criminal underworld is characterized by:

Small associations of criminals operating under internal directives and involved in the illicit arms trade.
Family criminal organizations prevalent in rural areas.
Gangs operating in larger cities, carrying out armed attacks in specific zones.

Corrupt Government Officials

Retired army officers and high-ranking officials are implicated in organized crime. Foreign actors, including East Asian businessmen and drug kingpins from other African countries, are also active in Madagascar’s illicit markets.

Government Incompetence and Corruption Hinder Fight Against Organized Crime

Madagascar’s government lacks the political will to effectively combat organized crime. The country has ratified international treaties related to transnational organized crime but lacks a national policy against organized crime.

Judiciary and Corruption

The judiciary is severely under-resourced, with many cases of human trafficking and wildlife trafficking resulting in acquittals.
Corruption is rampant throughout the system, with judges and law enforcement officials often implicated in criminal activities.

Madagascar’s capacity to protect victims and witnesses of organized crime is limited. There is no official legal mechanism in place to identify victims locally or abroad. The government has established a department tasked with victim support but implementation remains a challenge.

Challenges Faced by Civil Society

Private companies provide essential resources to judicial and law enforcement bodies, but their efforts are often undermined by:
- Government restrictions on freedom of speech.
- Safety risks faced by journalists investigating sensitive topics.

Conclusion

Madagascar’s cannabis trade thrives due to poverty and unemployment, while organized crime runs rampant fueled by corruption and government incompetence. The country’s judiciary is severely under-resourced, and civil society plays a limited role in combating organized crime. Efforts to combat organized crime are hindered by a lack of political will, resources, and expertise.