Majority of drug traffickers in West Africa Nigerian

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime released a report stating that Nigeria serves as the hub for heroin and cocaine trafficking in Western Africa. This report also stated that 95% of arrests made by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency were related to the transportation and sale of these two drugs. These Nigeriaan traffickers account for 57% of all West African drug traffickers, and their numbers are rapidly increasing.


The UNODC of Nigeria is currently working with the European Union and the NDLEA to help prevent and control the drug situation, and increase law enforcement capacity. Meanwhile, the International Narcotics Control Boar has stated that drug smuggling in Africa is increasing. After two years of slowing growth of the industry, in 2010 illicit trade shot up.


A section of the report included:
"Corruption is one of the underlying factors that makes drug trafficking possible. The vast profits generated in the drug markets often exceed the financial resources of state institutions," it said, adding that "Police and justice officials often face tremendous pressure from organized crime when working to stop drug trafficking. Preventing corruption must be a higher priority." 


This situation shows how weak and ineffective the government of Nigeria is in regards to controlling this problem. Corruption is rampant in the country, as the above quote shows. Nigeria has no hope of reform and peace until some of the underling issues of the country can be addressed, such as drug trafficking. It is no surprise that the nation can not hold a non-violent election when more than half of the drug trade for a portion of the continent is based there.