Illicit drug trading in Dakar: Dimensions and intersections with governance

This paper identifies how crime networks are using the Senegalese capital to channel illegal drugs to other parts of the world

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.

About the authors

Boubacar Diarisso is a consultant in governance and public administration. He contributed to the development of Senegal’s Strategy Paper on Governance, led by the Ministry of the Promotion of Good Governance, and spent nearly two years in charge of the USAID Peace and Governance Programme in Senegal. He conducted extensive research on public administration as part of a PhD in political science at the University of Dakar.

Charles Goredema is a senior research consultant working on various projects managed by the ISS and the African Development Bank. His focal areas are transnational economic crime, governance and illicit financial flows. A lawyer by training, Charles’ career includes the prosecution of economic crime (Zimbabwe), lecturing courses in Criminal Justice (Zimbabwe and South Africa) and managing research projects focusing on organised crime (South Africa).