Local Production on Islands Declines as Synthetic Drugs Continue to Flood Market

The Comoros archipelago is facing a significant decline in local production, with synthetic drugs taking center stage in the country’s illegal drug trade. According to sources, fishing ships used for human and cannabis smuggling have also been involved in the transportation of synthetic drugs on their way back to the Comoros.

Synthetic cannabis is the most widely consumed synthetic drug in the country, with a significant portion being produced locally.
The precursor chemicals used to manufacture these drugs are often sourced from China via Mayotte.

Cyber Crimes Rare Due to Poor Internet Connectivity

In contrast, cyber crimes have been relatively rare in the Comoros due to the country’s poor internet connectivity and low digitization. There have been no reported cases of sophisticated cyber-attacks in the country, with any incidents involving Comorian citizens occurring outside its borders.

Financial Crimes Flourish Amidst Corruption and Weak Governance

However, financial crimes are a different story altogether. The country’s poor governance has created an environment conducive to corruption, particularly in the form of embezzlement of public funds. Government corruption is widespread, with public officials often facilitating criminal activities.

Digital scams have become increasingly prevalent, involving cyber-enabled financial crimes such as identity theft and fraud aimed at collecting fraudulent money.
Corruption among state-embedded actors is rampant, with many officials accused of accepting bribes and participating in illegal activities.

Criminal Actors Widespread, with State Involvement Suspected

Corruption among state-embedded actors is rampant, with many officials accused of accepting bribes and participating in illegal activities. The involvement of government officials in criminal networks has been linked to organized crime, human trafficking, and drug trafficking.

Weak border security has made it easy for illegal trades such as drug trafficking and irregular migration to flourish.
Limited maritime surveillance and under-resourced security infrastructure at main ports have created a porous coastline that is vulnerable to smuggling and human trafficking.

Economic and Financial Challenges Abound

Despite efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, the country’s criminal code and specific laws are still weak and do not meet international standards. The lack of capacity to effectively collect taxes has led to a significant challenge in tax collection, with most of the economy operating in the informal sector.

High inflation, extreme poverty, and malnutrition have also contributed to the prevalence of illicit activities such as child labor and trafficking within the archipelago.
The country’s poor economic situation has led to a lack of resources for rehabilitation initiatives for drug users and victim-identification procedures.

The Comorian government’s efforts to support and protect victims of human trafficking are inadequate and insufficient. Rehabilitation initiatives for drug users are often privately funded and lack necessary resources, while victim-identification procedures have not been improved.

Public awareness campaigns against human trafficking have been slow and inadequate, with officials lacking training and resources to conduct prevention activities.
The shrinking space for civic engagement has resulted in a decline of public participation in social and political activities, further exacerbating the country’s governance challenges.

Journalism Under Attack, Civic Space Shrinking

The government has arrested and prosecuted participants in protests against the administration, as well as opposition leaders. NGOs face bureaucratic obstacles and underfunding, while journalists are targeted by the state, leading to increasing self-censorship.

The shrinking space for civic engagement has resulted in a decline of public participation in social and political activities, further exacerbating the country’s governance challenges.
The country’s poor economic situation has led to a lack of resources for rehabilitation initiatives for drug users and victim-identification procedures.