Mexican drug cartels outsource meth production to Nigeria

West Africa is emerging as a focal point for the manufacture and export of illicit drugs, according to recent assessments by regional security agencies and international monitoring bodies. The region’s extensive coastline, porous borders, and limited law‑enforcement capacity have attracted criminal networks that are establishing production facilities for synthetic substances such as methamphetamine and fentanyl, while also using established maritime routes to transit cocaine and heroin from South America and Asia to European markets.

Authorities attribute the rise in drug‑related activity to a combination of economic vulnerability, corruption, and the strategic advantage offered by West African ports that facilitate rapid movement of contraband. Efforts to curb the trend include heightened cooperation between West African states and partners such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, as well as increased investment in interdiction capabilities and judicial reforms. While these initiatives aim to disrupt the growing drug trade, officials caution that sustained challenges remain in addressing the underlying factors that make the region appealing to traffickers.