Is Africa losing the war on drugs?

The only ones benefiting from criminalizing drugs are those involved in the "illicit" business (be it government officials or others). Those who use drugs use a far more dangerous method than say who drink beer. Yet, drug users are not more of a threat to the community or to themselves than drunkards. If we truly care we work from the ground up, we try to raise their awareness, not impose pointless restrictions that attract illicit business and that endanger the young. If we decriminalize it, I bet we will be better off.

Unlike in the West, where drug use and the lure of drug money are big problems, it is the lure of drug money that is a problem in Africa. After all, the biggest drug cartels are in the West not in Africa. The problems of drug use and drug money in Africa, pale in comparison to Western countries. Unfortunately, as long as there is an insatiable demand for drug use in the West, some people will continue to risk death and lengthy prison terms by trafficking in drugs in order to meet the demand, and the hope to getting rich quick.

Africa won't win the war on drugs until it wins its war on corruption and africa serves as a transit hub for the drugs coming from latin america to europe markets.
the so called developed world should tackle the roots of the problem by targeting the source and the destination and shouldnt waste time on africa.
mohamed, kenya

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I feel that West/Northern Africa faces a great challenge in patrolling the Sahara in general. I was living in Mali and I would not only hear stories about the threats of Al Qaeda of the Islamic Maghreb in the desert but also of 747s landing in the far north of the country where the planes would be met by a number of 4x4 vehicles to pick-up the drugs that had just been flown-in from South America that to then transport them to Europe via a number of different entry points. If these stories are even in part true, the governments and the international community have a lot of work ahead of them...but then again one must ask who is profiting from this business?

Poverty is menance to the fight against drug trafficking in africa. We always see on GTV police raid people with hundreds of bags of weed bundled onto vihicles probably for sales elsewhere in Europe.

Drug is not an issue by itself but a result of demand and supply. Developing Nations in Latin America are focusing more on producing Drug than farming for food because of the high demand in developed Nations where some Countries are even planing to legalize the use of drug. Africa can participate in the Global fight on drug only when the demand by User Nations is curtailed.

My son was a drug addicted and could get drugs anytime anywhere. Police know the suppliers and close their eyes. It is also known that wardens in jails take drugs to the inmates.
When those in charge of ending the illegal drugs business become supporters there is no hope of success and legalizing drugs won’t help society except the few that will obtain licences to sell drugs legally.

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"West Africa has become a major transit hub for smuggling drugs from Latin America to Europe in the last decade".

Unlike the Europe & USA, the usage of illegal drugs is very low. The transit of drugs through W.Africa is borne out of the European demand.

The war is not for Africa. but those who use the continent to facilitate their trade. Talking about drug consuption and drug war in Africa, is kind of a joke compared to what is going on in the west and the middle east. We shouldn't focuse on Africa then alow other continents to be doing the illegal tarde. Lets go after Mexico, Afghanistan, etc and the war will be won!

hello
Life is a choice and whoever wants to take drugs should be up to them since everyone is good enough to make decisions about their life.
mamo Akale

It is sad that for BBC to paint the whole Africa with one big brush like this. I am sure you do not report drug problem in Italy or UK as the challenge of Europe. The content in the body of your report does not go with the title. If you do not know Africa has over 52 countries. Please be specific.