**The head of the UN drugs agency (UNODC) has warned that widespread drug trafficking is transforming Africa into a major crime hub.**Antonio Maria Costa said huge amounts of heroin and cocaine were being traded by “terrorists and anti-government forces” to fund their operations.
He called for a trans-Saharan network to be set up to tackle criminal groups.
Officials last month found the wreckage of a Boeing plane in Mali suspected of carrying up to 10 tonnes of cocaine.
“It is scary that this new example of the links between drugs, crime and terrorism was discovered by chance,” Maria Costa told the UN Security Council.
He said 50 to 60 tonnes of cocaine were trafficked every year across west Africa, particularly Guinea-Bissau, while another 30 to 35 tonnes of Afghan heroin were being trafficked into east Africa every year.
“Drugs not only enrich organized crime… terrorists and anti-government forces in the Sahel extract resources from the drug trade to fund their operations, purchase equipment and pay foot-soldiers,” he said.
The Sahel is a belt extending across northern Africa, just south of the Sahara.
The UN drugs chief also noted that seven laboratories were recently discovered in Guinea, suggesting that the region was emerging as a synthetic drugs producer.
For his part, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said drug trafficking was also affecting peacekeeping efforts in Afghanistan, Haiti, Guinea-Bissau and elsewhere.
The UN Security Council adopted a statement voicing concern about the impact of the African narcotics trade and calling for stronger regional cooperation in the fight against illegal drugs.