Financial Crime World

Chad: A Hub for Trafficking and Criminal Activities

Chad has emerged as a major hub for various forms of trafficking and criminal activities, with its porous borders making it an attractive route for smugglers.

Cannabis Trafficking

  • According to reports, cannabis trafficking is the most common form of illegal activity in Chad.
  • Most of the cannabis comes from Nigeria.
  • Although there has been some domestic production of cannabis in southern Chad and the Lake Chad region, a slight decline in trafficking has been observed due to conflict in the central Sahel.

Synthetic Drugs

  • A growing concern is the consumption of synthetic drugs, particularly Tramadol, which has become a major problem in Chad.
  • Despite the shutdown of over half of the country’s pharmacies in recent years, evidence suggests that the move has had limited success in slowing down the consumption of the drug.
  • Artisanal miners in the informal gold mining sector have also been known to use Tramadol as a way to increase productivity and suppress hunger.

Criminal Actors

Armed Groups and Rebels

  • Several armed groups and rebels operate in the north and east of Chad, engaging in various forms of trafficking activities, including drug trafficking and gold smuggling.
  • Corruption is rampant in the country’s administration, with customs and police services being accused of protecting traffickers.
  • There have also been reports of wildlife officers involved in the illegal ivory trade.

Foreign Actors

  • Foreign actors are also active in Chad, with incursions from Sudanese groups and nationals from the Central African Republic common.
  • Small autonomous foreign militias operating in the country are known to be involved in wildlife poaching, human trafficking, arms trafficking, mineral trafficking, raiding, and kidnapping.

Leadership and Governance

Government Efforts

  • The Chadian government has taken steps to tackle criminality, but its approach has been criticized for being securitized rather than focused on addressing the root causes of crime.
  • The military has been engaged in regular crackdowns on illegal gold mining sites, but the goals behind these operations have been more focused on securing access to artisanal gold mining areas for government-lead industrial extraction.

Corruption and Transparency

  • Government transparency is limited, and corruption perception is high.
  • Oversight mechanisms are quasi non-existent, but some security officials have been tried, imprisoned, and fined for their involvement in drug trafficking activities.

International Cooperation

Anti-Crime Measures

  • Chad has shown willingness to cooperate with international organizations in combating organized crime, particularly in the fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime in the Sahel region.
  • The country has also ratified several international treaties related to organized crime.

Domestic Level Challenges

  • Implementation of anti-crime measures remains a challenge on the domestic level.
  • Some areas of the country have religious traditions that provide legitimacy to certain crime markets, such as human trafficking.

Criminal Justice and Security

Law Enforcement

  • Law enforcement in Chad is limited, with vast areas along the border with Sudan being partially or totally outside the control of the central government.
  • Special task forces have been created to address criminality, but the judicial system lacks specialized units focused on combating organized crime.

Judicial System

  • The presence of the state and judiciary in areas where armed rebellions occur is extremely weak, making it difficult to bring perpetrators to justice.

Economic and Financial Environment

Regulatory Capacity

  • Chad’s economic regulatory capacity remains weak, with no significant progress made in correlating economic regulation with the fight against organized crime.
  • Doing business in Chad is extremely difficult due to its weak economic regulatory capacity.

Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing

  • The country has a law against money laundering and terrorist financing, but its effectiveness in enforcement remains extremely weak.

Civil Society and Social Protection

Victim and Witness Support

  • Victim and witness support in Chad is limited, but there have been some efforts by civil society organizations to denounce trafficking in people.
  • Prevention measures against organized crime are also weak, but some civil-society actors have mobilized to carry out such efforts in certain parts of the country.

Freedom of Expression

  • Journalists are often arrested or attacked for negative reporting about the government, and media outlets have been shut down due to criticism in their coverage.
  • Social media access has also been blocked during protests.