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Illicit Drug Trading in Dakar Dimensions and Intersections with Governance Boubacar Diarisso and Charles Goredema

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ISS PAPER 260 | AUGUST 2014 Illicit drug trading in Dakar Dimensions and intersections with governance Boubacar Diarisso and Charles Goredema Summary The authors provide a thorough analysis of the situation with regard to illegal drugs in Senegal’s capital, Dakar. The paper focuses on cannabis, cocaine and heroine, as well as counterfeit pharmaceutical products. It discusses the extent of cultivation, patterns of consumption, international trafficking methods and routes, the role of women, police action and the impact of trafficking on governance. It is concluded that while there is no evidence that hard drugs are manufactured in Dakar and there are insufficient indicators for Dakar being a drug trafficking hub, it is evident that crime networks are interested in exploiting the city for the channelling of drugs to other parts of the world. ONCE THE CAPITAL OF French West During the 18th century Dakar was as a crucial link in international relations Africa during the colonial period from nothing more than a village. The name and affairs.5 1902 to 1958, and then of the short- reportedly featured on a map for the Dakar boasts a telecommunications and lived Mali Federation in 1959, the city of first time in 1750.3 The first buildings infrastructure network that makes the Dakar became the political and economic appeared in 1857 in the wake of the city a favourite destination for cultural, capital of the newly independent state construction of a French fort. This political and economic events of an of Senegal in 1960. As one of the was followed by the design of an initial international nature. The metropolis few countries in Africa that has never cadastral plan, according to which covers an area of 547 km² and 4 experienced a military coup d’état, development began in 1858. The city constitutes 0,3 per cent of Senegal’s total Senegal is considered politically stable. was built to meet certain strategic and size of 196 712 km². The establishment It is situated to the south of the Sahara administrative needs of the French in Dakar of large industrial plants for the desert, at the westernmost end of the colonial empire and it thus became a production of export-oriented goods and African continent, 6 132 km from New symbol and crucial pillar of the French the re-packaging of imported products York, 4 371 km from London, 4 202 km imperial project in Africa. It served as the for the local Senegalese market have from Paris, 6 619 km from Cape Town starting point for conceptualising and turned the city into an industrial hub of and 5 036 km from Rio de Janeiro.1 Its fine-tuning France’s political dominance the region. Dakar has become Senegal’s airport was designated as a major stop- over West Africa in particular. Given leading centre since the country’s key over from the early days of commercial its advantageous location, and its economic activities rely on services air transport.2 cosmopolitan population, Dakar serves provided by the city. It has also become a 8396 ISS Paper 260.indd 1 2014/08/14 9:47 AM PAPER focal point for domestic and cross-border Much of the cannabis found in Dakar • The south, especially in the migration. is cultivated on farms in the region. Département de Bignona It is often grown on small patches of A breakdown by age group in 2008 • The Kolda region close to the border land in the fertile market-garden region indicated that Dakar’s population was with Guinea Bissau of Niayes, an area of about 100 km2 essentially very young, with 44,7 per along the coast extending almost up The Casamance region in the southern cent being under the age of 20 years to Saint-Louis in the north-west of the part of Senegal, is considered to be and more than 70 per cent being below country. The plants are hidden among Senegal’s largest cannabis cultivation the age of 35.6 The over 60 age-group normal crops. Small cannabis farms, area. Criminality in the region is worsened constituted slightly more than five per often managed by women, yield a good by the insecurity that has prevailed there cent of the population. In 2007, average income. For example, the price paid to a for three decades. The Niayes (Dakar- life expectance was estimated at 59,8 farmer for 5 kg of cannabis, the proceeds Gandiol-Saint-Louis corridor) supports years, though it is higher amongst from three or four plants, is equivalent women at 61,3 years.7 vast cannabis distribution and trading to the income obtained from 2 ha of networks. In the past few years, there Cannabis is the drug most commonly potatoes. However, because the land have been reports of bartering with used in Dakar and in Senegal. Because available for farming is shrinking under cattle owners exchanging their livestock, it is readily available and comparatively the pressure of land required for housing, stock-feed and even staple food stocks cheap, cannabis is by far the most as well as energetic law enforcement for cannabis. It is as difficult to estimate popular drug and is used by people activities, the cultivation of cannabis is the amount of cannabis produced in across the social strata. During a debate declining in the Niayes region. Dakar’s this region as it is to mount eradication on ’the security of citizens and their cannabis supply is becoming more and campaigns there. property’ in the National Assembly on more dependent on certain Senegalese 4 June 2013, the Minister of Interior, farmers who, in their quest for larger According to data provided by the General Pathé Seck, announced incomes, are abandoning subsistence drug squad of the Senegalese police, that in 2012 about 1,5 t of cannabis, crops in favour of cannabis cultivation. cannabis is encountered in several 12,45 kg of cocaine and 36 g of heroin Traffickers are prepared to pay the varieties, including verte de Mboro, had been seized by the Senegalese police. Trafficking of drugs in Senegal is A sharp increase in the abuse of cannabis in Dakar dominated by Dakar, closely followed by has been noted Kaolack, a gateway city with connections to Mali and The Gambia.8 The following farmers a high price, often in advance which is a locally improved variety; areas of Dakar are known for the of delivery. This applies to the Karones Green Makut, a variety from the Gambia; storage and concealment of cannabis in islands, and Blouff and Sine Saloum in Lopito or Lops from Ghana; Bouddha, 11 particular: particular. A large proportion of the an ’improved’ variety from Casamance; cannabis supply to the Dakar market Ganila from Mali;13 and the Salsa or • Keur Mbaye Fall (suburbs) comes from farms in the hinterland.12 ’Colombian’ variety introduced in 1996. • Mbao Protected Forest It should be noted that cannabis A sharp increase in the abuse of cannabis • Mbeubeusse (a household waste cultivation has spread from the Grande in Dakar has been noted. This can be dumping site)9 Zone des Niayes to other parts of attributed to its availability, but also to Senegal. Today, areas that can and are recreational smoking by unemployed • Boune (Pikine)10 being used for cannabis cultivation are youth. The average age of users is quite Cannabis is readily obtained in the Dakar scattered across the country, as follows: low, with first-time users being as young suburbs of Pikine, Guédiawaye, Parcelles as 12 or 13 years old.14 Cannabis is • The Gandiol-Saint-Louis region of Assainies, Thiaroye, Yeumbeul and Keur known to be used at academic institutions the Niayes Massar, as well as in Rufisque, 25 km such as the University of Dakar and Dakar from Dakar. The Dakar neighbourhoods • Along the Senegal River up to La high schools. are home to the urban poor who Pointe de Sangomar migrated from rural areas in search of a Cannabis trafficking in Dakar • Along the tributary of Sine Saloum better life. Some of them are involved in We draw a distinction between dealers the trafficking of cannabis. • The Saloum islands and traffickers on the basis of the scale of 2 ILLICIT DRUG TRADING IN DAKAR 8396 ISS Paper 260.indd 2 2014/08/14 9:47 AM their trade. The money generated by the vehicles as they wait for customers. More Trafficking of hard drugs cannabis trade has attracted both small serious traffickers have transport of some No hard drugs are produced in Dakar. dealers and ’major traffickers’. While sort. Currently, motorbikes are the most Yet, it is evident that cocaine and heroin the trade affects many neighbourhoods, common. Indeed, a motorbike is a good are trafficked in the city. Cases heard by it is mainly in the more populous hiding place for the average dealer as it the Assize Court since 2008 show that neighbourhoods that trading is most allows the unobtrusive transport of 2 kg cocaine trafficking is on the increase. The frequent and open. The most notorious to 3 kg of cannabis. Bigger traffickers use matter of the State versus Franck Koma, areas are Niary-Tally, Grand-Dakar and motor vehicles and canoes to carry drugs a Nigerian national, involved 10 packets Yoff, and the suburbs of Thiaroye, Pikine to Dakar, especially onto and from the containing a total of 5 kg of cocaine and Guédiawaye. beaches in Bargy and Sendou. Cannabis mixed with 10 kg of white powder.18 The is often landed along Senegal’s 118 km Despite the authorities’ efforts, these accused was also found in possession long coast.
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