GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1       BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Illicit drug trafficking has proven to be one of the major problems that the global

community faces. The global problem of hard drugs has lately assumed an alarming proportion

with the expansion of traditional drug routes into areas hitherto thought to be immune to the

problems especially African countries, with Nigeria, Guinea Bissau and Ghana leading the way

(UNODC, 2003; Central Intelligence Agency, undated). Because of this fact, the drug trade

became deeply rooted in the economic and social cultures of many nations, which makes it very

difficult to control. This is a legitimate concern because not only do hard drugs have inherent

destructive effects on people‟s physical and social health, but they also activate some subsequent

negative multiplier effects into the social, political and economic fabric of the country and the

world at large.

The nature and dynamism of the illicit drug trade has made international cooperation

necessary in order to deal with it. The reason is because activities relating to illicit drugs in a

country might be just a cause, an effect, or even a mere stage in the entire process of the global

illicit drug business. This brings to the fore the need to collectively lay hands on any and every

part of the world that is affected by the drug menace using the best available and adaptable

approach. An effective international framework of cooperation for tackling the drug menace

must therefore be one that is adaptable, all-inclusive in geographic scope and far reaching in its

coverage of the different processes, parties and stages in the entire illicit drug business.

12

Otherwise, the efforts to address the problem of drug trafficking will yield results that are less

than what is desirable.

The Central Intelligence Agency (undated) notes that Nigeria is not only a transit route

for heroin and cocaine headed for European, East Asian and North American markets, but also a

consumer of amphetamines, a safe zone for Nigerian traffickers operating worldwide, a major

money laundering centre replete with massive corruption and criminal activity, although there

are improvements in anti-money laundering controls that attracted a positive international

recognition from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The United States, on the other hand

is the world‟s biggest market for cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamine, heroine, marijuana,

depressants, stimulants and hallucinogens, in addition to being a money laundering centre

(UNODC, 2003; CIA, undated).

Nigeria, as a leading drug route in Africa, is concerned with the consequences of drug

menace, especially its linkages with other conventional and organized crimes such as money

laundering, corruption, terrorism, human trafficking, as well as health problem. Nigeria is not a

producer of cocaine or heroin, but her strategic geographical location coupled with her porous

borders have made her a transit point for the illicit trafficking of drugs from the source countries

like Pakistan, Thailand, Columbia, and India, among others (UNODC, 2017; UNODC, 2003).

The only internally controlled drug produced in Nigeria is Cannabis sativa, popularly

known as Indian hemp, which has spread widely due to the favorable climatic and social

conditions of the country. More so, the cultivators believe that profit derived from cultivating

cannabis is much higher than what is earned from the cultivation and sale of other legitimate

cash crops (NDLEA, 2010; UNODC, 2003). Nigerian illicit drug smuggling remains a serious

13

threat to both Nigeria and United States. In order to confront this common threat, Nigeria and

United States have taken numerous steps to cooperate in the interdiction of cross-border drug

trafficking since 1989. Together they have made some outstanding achievements in minimizing

the inflow of drug into the United States and eradication of Indian hemp cultivation in Nigeria.