Africa’s east coast heroin trafficking route

A rising share of the heroin crop from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is being shipped along a network of maritime routes to East and southern Africa in a so-called “smack track” to the West

Afghanistan: Produces 85 percent of world’s heroin

To Western and Central Europe
PAKISTAN 
IRAN
TURKEY
SOMALIA
KENYA 
TANZANIA
Makran coast
INDIAN OCEAN
MOZAMBIQUE
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Maputo
Cape Town
Arabian Sea
To North America
Dhow routes


HEROIN TRAFFICKING ROUTES

Balkan route

Traditional land route has become increasingly difficult for traffickers to use – owing to Turkey tightening its borders in response to Syrian conflict, and attempts by European countries to keep out refugees

Southern route

Heroin taken from Afghanistan to Makran coast of Pakistan, where shipments are placed on dhows – traditional Arab boats – or smuggled in containers on larger ships. Vessels sail to African coast, where smaller boats collect contraband

SOUTH AFRICA

U.S. Navy team boarding drug- laden dhow in Arabian Sea in 2003. Most heroin is destined for Western markets but spin-off trade is fuelling consumption in Africa, along with formation of regional criminal economy



Sources: The Economist, GI TOC     Picture: Getty Images     © GRAPHIC NEWS