South Africa is the largest market for the sale of illicit drugs in sub-Sahara Africa. This is according to the United States’ Department of State to Congress 2018 International Narcotics Control Strategy (INCS) Report.
The INCS report which was released in the first quarter of 2018 recognises South Africa as the continent’s biggest and most established economy. Therefore, it does not come as a surprise that this would be the largest market for the sale of illicit drugs in comparison to our sub-Saharan neighbours.
Narcos believe that South Africa acts as the transshipment destination of drugs that eventually make their way to Europe, from South America.
“A portion is distributed for local consumption and the remainder is trafficked internationally, often controlled by Nigerian criminal organizations,” the report states
Marijuana, referred to locally as ‘dagga’, according to the report, is the most consumed illicit drug in South Africa. 2018 was the year that saw legislation pass the recreational use of dagga and that is still being fine-tuned to cooperative standards. However, the report notes how dangerous the use of dagga is when it is mixed together with heroin to make a cocktail known locally as nyaope .
“The stated goals of South Africa’s National Drug Master Plan are to “reduce illicit drug supply, demand, and harm,” but insufficient resources and limited capacity challenge implementation,” the report indicated.
