Africa regional overview

In the last few years, ATS use and production has extended beyond South Africa, primarily to West Africa. However, South Africa continues to report the largest number of dismantled ATS laboratories in Africa. In terms of trafficking, methamphetamine is increasingly being smuggled from West Africa to other parts of Africa as well as to East and South-East Asia, which is a growing market for methamphetamine. East Africa appears to be used for diverting ATS precursor chemicals and it is emerging as an ATS transit trafficking hub. Data on NPS use and trafficking remains limited, but the traditionally used psychoactive substance, khat, is highly prevalent in some African countries. More recently, the non-medical use of prescription medicines, such as tramadol, a synthetic opioid pain-killer not under international control, has been reported in Egypt.

Related Subject(s): Drugs Crime and Terrorism