Mexican drug cartels are here

Speaking yesterday during the African Union (AU) conference on the Illicit Synthetic Drug trade, US Ambassador to Botswana Howard Van Vranken disclosed that these cartels are often working with local networks in the targeted African countries. He said these cartels are targeting Africa because the continent is on the rise, with its economy projected to reach $3.6 trillion by 2026. Vranken added that if left unchecked, these cartels will reach deeper. He said criminal groups are opportunistic and that trafficking is never their only business but one of many. He said they must devise strategies that disrupt entire criminal ecosystems.

Vranken said the reality is that criminal organisations adapt faster than ever because they are agile, tech-savvy, and are interconnected across all borders.