Drug Traffickers from Latin America Expanding Operations into Africa
Narco cartels are now expanding their operations from Argentina to Mexico and moving across the Atlantic to ‘lawless’ Africa, according to anti-crime agencies.
In late July, a team from South Africa’s elite law enforcement agency, The Hawks, conducted a midday raid on an arid farm in the country’s remote northeast region.
During the raid, they discovered an industrial-scale lab and 408 kilograms of crystal meth and related chemicals worth nearly $113 million, making it the largest methamphetamine bust in South Africa.
Of the four individuals arrested, three were Mexican nationals, raising concerns about the presence of Mexican drug cartels in South Africa.
Analysts, law enforcement officials, and intelligence officers suggest that cartels from South and Latin America are producing large quantities of crystal meth in South Africa, which is then smuggled into the United States.
According to the United Nations, methamphetamine is a potent stimulant that affects the central nervous system, leading to feelings of euphoria among users.
The DEA highlights the dangerous consequences of high doses of methamphetamine, including death from stroke, heart attack, or multiple organ failure.
In 2023, over 36,000 Americans died from fatal overdoses of psychostimulant narcotics, mainly crystal meth, further highlighting the severity of the drug crisis.
Mexican poly-drug organizations, such as the Sinaloa and New Generation cartels, are involved in trafficking heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana across the United States.
Experts suggest that Mexican cartels are increasingly using South Africa as a base to manufacture methamphetamine and smuggle it into the US due to crackdowns in their home countries.
This shift has led to collaborations between Mexican cartels, South African gangs, and Chinese triads to smuggle precursor chemicals needed for drug production.
South Africa’s strategic location, advanced financial system, and well-connected transport networks make it an attractive transit country for drug trafficking, as highlighted by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
The escalation of methamphetamine trafficking in Africa is a growing concern, with South Africa attracting organized crime groups due to weak law enforcement and corruption.
Mexican cartels have expanded their operations to West, Central, and Southern Africa, establishing bases for drug trafficking and precursor chemical smuggling.
These cartels primarily rely on local collaborators to facilitate their operations without getting directly involved in local criminal activities.
Despite the Mexican cartels’ discreet presence in Africa, there are indications of their increasing involvement in migrant smuggling and other criminal activities on the continent.
