Financial Crime World

The Plight of Organized Crime in Chad: A Comprehensive Report

Introduction

Chad, a landlocked country in Central Africa, has been grappling with the menace of organized crime for quite some time. This report highlights key points regarding illicit activities that have taken root in various sectors of Chadian society.

Illicit Activities in Chad

Illicit Gold Mining: A Source of Violence

  • The northern region of Chad is plagued by goldmining activities that remain largely illicit due to a lack of regulation and oversight.
  • This has led to high levels of violence as local armed groups and military forces clash over control of the goldfields.

Drug Trafficking: A Transit Country for Heroin

  • Chad is considered a transit country for heroin, with some links between domestic and regional terrorist organizations and illicit drug trafficking.
  • Cocaine trafficking also occurs, with the country serving as a transit point.

Cannabis Trade: Present Along Southern Borders

  • The cannabis trade is present along most of Chad’s southern borders, with production and trafficking occurring in the Lake Chad region.

Tramadol Trafficking: A Persistent Problem

  • Tramadol consumption is reportedly a persistent problem due to its availability and affordability.
  • It’s used by artisanal miners as a way to increase productivity and suppress hunger.

Cyber Crimes and Financial Crimes

Cyber Crimes: Taking Advantage of the Internet

  • Organized crime groups are taking advantage of the internet to defraud or swindle the population, with hacking and fraudulent activities involving cryptocurrencies increasing in the country.

Financial Crimes: Prevalent Due to Limited Oversight

  • Financial crimes such as embezzlement of public funds, large-scale money laundering, and corruption are prevalent due to limited government transparency and oversight mechanisms.

Criminal Justice and Security

Lack of Specialized Judicial Units

  • There are no specialized judicial units in Chad aimed at countering organized crime.
  • Law enforcement is confined to major cities, and the country lacks specialized organized crime law enforcement units.

Economic and Financial Environment

Conducting Business: Extremely Difficult

  • Conducting business within Chad is extremely difficult due to its weak economic regulatory capacity.

Civil Society and Social Protection

Limited Support for Victims and Witnesses

  • Victim and witness support in Chad remains limited, and preventive measures against organized crime are weak.

International Cooperation

Promoting Cooperation Against Transnational Crime

  • Chad has given clear indications of promoting international cooperation in combating transnational organized crime.
  • The country has had extensive relationships with a wide array of international organizations in the fight against both TOC and terrorism in the Sahel.