Cape Verde AG: Drug Seizures Only Fraction of Global Traffic
Cape Verde’s Attorney General, Luís Landim, issued a stark warning today, revealing that the volume of narcotics seized by local authorities is “incommensurably lower” than the massive quantities flowing through the archipelago’s waters. Speaking at a high-level regional forum in Praia, Landim underscored the immense challenge the island nation faces as a strategic hub for global smuggling networks.
A Maritime Blind Spot
Cape Verde’s unique geostrategic location makes it an ideal transit point for international cartels moving products between continents. However, the country’s vast exclusive economic zone presents a logistical nightmare for law enforcement. “What we manage to seize is incommensurably lower than what passes through,” Landim admitted, citing global estimates that only about 10% of annual illicit traffic is ever intercepted.
While Cape Verde has successfully intercepted shipments as large as five and ten tons in the past, Landim emphasized that these victories represent only a fraction of the total flow. He stressed that monitoring the nation’s expansive territorial waters is impossible without robust international support.
The Power of Partnerships
The Attorney General noted that every major drug bust in the archipelago’s recent history has been the result of close cooperation with international partners. Cape Verde currently maintains maritime surveillance agreements with the United States, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, France, and the Netherlands.
Landim warned that criminal organizations are becoming increasingly sophisticated, exploiting globalization to identify surveillance gaps and infiltrate state networks. “Globalization has allowed these organizations to exploit transport facilities and surveillance gaps to expand their activities,” he said.
Shifting Tactics: The Rise of African Production
Beyond traditional smuggling, the Attorney General alerted officials to a “worrying trend”: the migration of synthetic drug production to the African continent. By moving labs closer to major consumer markets, particularly in Europe, traffickers are seeking to streamline their supply chains and reduce the risk of interception over long distances.
A United Front in West Africa
The three-day Regional Investigation Forum on Illicit Drug Trafficking and Related Offenses serves as a platform for prosecutors and central authorities from across West Africa to share intelligence and develop joint strategies. The event is organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) with support from the United States.
According to Landim, Cape Verde was chosen to host the event because the international community views the nation as a “determined, firm, and focused” partner in the global war on organized crime.
Image: Pexels – Can Arıcılar
