United States Drug Enforcement Administration

DEA offices in the Africa region face a diverse range of threats posed by drug trafficking organizations (DTOs). The continued escalation of cocaine trafficking from South America to Europe via established routes in Africa presents a critical threat not only to Europe but also an increasing risk to the U.S., and U.S. interests in the region. The same South American drug trafficking organizations responsible for transporting significant shipments of cocaine to the U.S. are increasingly utilizing the African continent as a transit base/storage location for cocaine to Europe. The drug threat in Africa extends beyond cocaine, to include Afghanistan-produced Southwest Asian heroin transiting the African continent enroute to the U.S., precursor chemicals enroute to Central America, specifically Mexico, for the production and distribution of methamphetamine, and viable concerns about the extent of the narco-terrorism threat in western, eastern and northern Africa.

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