Heroin, cocaine, cannabis, but also more recently synthetic cannabis and methamphetamine: drug trafficking and consumption are increasing and diversifying in the Indian Ocean, especially in Madagascar, the Seychelles and Mauritius.
The NGO’s global initiative against cross-border organized crime has been researched and published a reportentitled Changing Tides: The Evolution of the Illegal Drug Trade in the Western Indian Ocean and Their Developments in recent years in this zone between Africa and Asia.
Apart from cannabis, heroin is the largest and oldest drug market on the islands. It passes through what is called the “Route du Sud”. From Afghanistan, where it is produced, it then travels by sea along the African coast or directly to the Seychelles and Madagascar. Often by air, it can then fly to Europe. But above all, local consumption is important: in Mauritius since the 1970s and in the Seychelles since the early 2000s. The archipelago, known for its turquoise waters, has one of the highest levels of heroin consumption in the world.
The island is large, difficult to control, the coast is very porous and the government has weaknesses. All this makes Madagascar conveniently used as a base for human trafficking.
Indian Ocean Q / A DOSSIER EVENING 11/06 – Q / A Global initiative “Mada hub for drug trafficking”
The emergence of Madagascar as the main hub is largely ignored and goes unnoticed, emphasizes Lucia Bird, analyst and lead author of the report. The island is vulnerable due to several factors. First of all, its geographical location, close to the continent. And since some drug landing sites on the “Route du Sud” have been postponed, Madagascar is a convenient option. The island is large, difficult to control, the coast is very porous and the government has weaknesses. All this makes Madagascar conveniently used as a base for human trafficking. Especially since the very high demand for heroin in the Seychelles and in Mauricie has also encouraged this market between the islands.
Next is the cocaine market. Much less important: the white powder is imported directly by air from Latin America to the countries of southern Africa or directly to Madagascar. Cannabis is grown locally. Madagascar is a major producer that then exports to the other islands.
But what the global initiative study shows is not only an increase in human trafficking and local consumption, but also a diversification of drugs circulating in the area. In recent years, the market for synthetic cannabis has exploded, especially in Mauritius, Mayotte and the Comoros. The precursors of this drug are purchased online in China and are often imported by mail.
Methamphetamine has also made a recent appearance and is produced in Afghanistan, it also takes the “southern route”, such as heroin. For NGOs, this is a trend to watch, because on the African continent, the increase in methamphetamine consumption in recent years has “done a lot of harm to societies”.
Significant illegal markets
In Madagascar, Mauritius and the Seychelles, these are significant illegal markets, the researcher adds, for which there is a significant degree of organization. In Madagascar, it is estimated that the market is controlled by a small number of large traffickers, with regard to heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. Sources in the Malagasy intelligence service estimate that these bigwigs could only have five. And that they are not of Malagasy nationality but come from the African continent. ”
A difference from other islands where the markets are controlled by the locals. “One of the important points, when we examined those involved, is that the increase in this human trafficking has been made possible by endemic corruption and the support of people in high positions in state administrations.”
Local consumption is increasing
For the organization, Madagascar thus becomes an important hub in the region. On the Big Island, the number of consumers is increasing, and according to analyst Lucia Bird, “we should look at the phenomenon now before the pharmaceutical market becomes too large.”
Global initiative therefore requires awareness of the extent of this human trafficking, which has consequences in all strata of society and within the state.
► To read about: Africa: the pharmaceutical market explodes, the situation
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