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Chad’s Southern Borders Plagued by Cannabis Trafficking

N’DJAMENA, Chad - The cannabis trade is rampant along most of Chad’s southern borders, with production and trafficking activities reported in the regions bordering Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Sudan.

Sources and Impact

  • Nigerian traffickers are responsible for a significant portion of the cannabis that enters Chad.
  • Local production has also been detected in the southern regions, particularly affecting the Lake Chad region.
  • Recent conflict in the central Sahel has led to a slight decline in cannabis trafficking activities, according to officials.

Tramadol Abuse on the Rise

Despite efforts to shut down more than half of the country’s pharmacies due to their involvement in clandestine sales, evidence suggests that Tramadol remains widely available. This synthetic drug is becoming increasingly widespread in Chad and has also been linked to artisanal miners in the informal gold mining sector, who use it as a means of increasing productivity and suppressing hunger.

Organized Crime and Corruption

Chad is plagued by organized crime and corruption, with several armed groups and rebels operating in the north and east of the country. These groups are involved in various types of trafficking activities, including drug trafficking and gold smuggling.

  • The Chadian administration has been criticized for its lack of transparency and its failure to address corruption effectively.
  • Customs and police services have been accused of protecting traffickers, while wildlife officers have been linked to the illegal ivory trade.

International Cooperation

Despite these challenges, Chad has shown commitment to international cooperation in combating organized crime. The country has established relationships with a range of international organizations, including:

  • EU
  • France
  • US

These partnerships aim to counter terrorism and transnational organized crime in the Sahel region. However, domestic implementation of anti-organized crime measures remains a challenge, and corruption continues to hinder efforts to combat these crimes.

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