Cartels Are Trafficking Drugs Through West Africa | The War on Drugs

Over the past decade or so, South American cartels have found a new way to get their product into the vast European marketplace - West Africa.
The region’s porous borders, endemic poverty and weak law enforcement make it an easy target for international organised crime. But now drug use is spilling over into local markets, and the corruption inherent in the War on Drugs has begun to warp entire societies, leading to the emergence of Africa’s first real narco-states.
In The War On Drugs Show, we examine the social implications of prohibition worldwide.
Any attempt to shut down the trade in drugs such as heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, ketamine or weed invariably sets off a chain of events that just makes things worse, leaving a trail of death, illness, violence, slavery, addiction, crime and inequality across the globe. Everyone loses - except, in a weird kind of way, the drugs themselves.
Check out the VICE World News playlist for global reporting you won't find elsewhere: • World News
Watch more from this series:
Turning 12-Year-Olds Into Drug Dealers
• Turning 12-Year-Olds I...
Why Cannabis Is an Important Medicine
• These Illegal Drugs Ar...
The Reality of Legalizing Cocaine, Heroin, and Ecstasy
• The Reality of Legaliz...
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[@VICE]

Watch more of The War on Drug series here: kzbin.info/aero/PLDbSvEZka6GGanXjSfH1bQNVheppFQWWo

[@Yellow.1844]

Hey thank you Vice for showing that the War on Drugs is a catastophic failure, hopefully it ends and get legalized everywhere!

[@clambo7786]

@@Yellow.1844 seem to be working fine

[@cameronbettencourt1628]

Damn vice... I wish you guys would just say the news and not just be on one side.... this is a good video.... but you guys are so liberal now..😞

[@DaveSCameron]

What rubbish and you have zero evidence of such a racist claim!

[@cameronbettencourt1628]

@@DaveSCameron how is that racist.... your the problem...

[@jsl02008]

I guess this means season 4 of Narcos is coming.

[@jackfrost8600]

😂😂👌🏻👌🏻

[@JoseGonzalez-kz6rb]

That’s fucking perfect 👌🏽

[@j.commando]

Bruhh😭😂

[@Rulas29]

Lmaooo

[@Rulas29]

Imagine

[@ThejeffJr8]

Cartels are literally everywhere at this point

[@johnny44937]

I got a bad feeling

[@PHlophe]

there almost isn't a place in the world where they aren't. We should ask ourselves why European nations , North americas and the Gringo side of Latam keeps buying that drug. because with europe buying it . the war on drugs vanishes over night

[@user-fk4rx1jd3r]

@@PHlophe lol not only them take drugs

[@Jba8179]

North korea

[@coles5451]

@@PHlophe They're the only ones that can afford it

[@likbezlik]

I encourige Vice to make a video about the drug trade in the Balkans. Pretty much all the governments are involved in it and it is the reason we will never see the cannabis legalization happen here.

[@Swnsasy]

The way drugs are so widespread, it seems it's in every government because there is just so much money to be made in it.. Here in the US in the 80's it was the restaurant Benihana and they stuffed 250 pound Tuna so full that fish became 500 pounds.. Then, the Mormons which they say has ties to Senators in that faith.. Oh, and can't forget about the Amish.. Lol.. It's insane..

[@karllandegren9727]

We Northern Europeans thank you Galenika for providing medical supplies that our doctors are not willing to. I think Serbia supplies about 80% of all benzos for Sweden alone.

[@likbezlik]

@@karllandegren9727 Interested, I never knew that. But it's not surprising to me considering half of our people are on benzos or some other medication, people just need something to cope with the shitty living standard.

[@christinasornbutnark1208]

👍

[@carlife_710]

@@likbezlik It’s life bro it’s not meant to be easy, everyone has the tools to get thru it drugs are just a cheat code to some that turn into a nightmare when abused

[@neilatsterling7412]

The way Portugal has done with great success, all countries should de-criminalize drugs, and emphasize rehab and education.

[@MediCali951]

Big Pharma wouldn’t allow that here in the USA. Too many millionaire medical insurance companies willing to pay millions for pills plus all the arrest drop offs wouldn’t make the corrupt jail system any money

[@helioszxc]

@@MediCali951 how many people work for these companies ? Not more than your fellow citizens. The power is in your hands. Only you can make a change

[@PHlophe]

portugal is a small country the size of manhattan. of course its manageable on this small scale. its like comparing a village to an actual nation

[@devinburkebrown7148]

Portugal is about the size of New York state

[@cakapcakep241]

It can't be implemented in south east asia and China. Both society in the region have a painful trauma with drugs, because of how the european colonial power use drugs to demoralize their army and civilian in the past so the european colonial power can easily subjugate them. Just read about how the dutch and the british opium trade in asia.

[@JahNuhThunDeeTheOneAndOnly]

The War on Drugs can never be won if it’s about stopping the drug trade.

[@gerardrbain1972]

No it has nothing to do with stopping the drug trade, that's impossible and the people pushing this narrative are fully aware of this. This War On Drugs is just a sick political game played on poor people.

[@riceandcheese1463]

@@gerardrbain1972 it’s more of a scheme than anything, why would they stop the drugs coming in if they make money from arresting drug users and traffickers

[@replynotificationsdisabled]

As usual as the war on guns

[@JahNuhThunDeeTheOneAndOnly]

@@gerardrbain1972 No it’s just a way to capture the poor and use them as slave labor behind bars-remember that the 13th Amendment outlaws forced labor except as punishment for a crime.

[@durkadurka1926]

@@JahNuhThunDeeTheOneAndOnly Go Giants!

[@FPV_TOMMY]

The Rich Gets Richer While The Poor Watches KZbin LOL

[@kiuk_kiks]

HAHAHAHAHA

[@SpaceRanger187]

Not true

[@minnerminful]

I mean wouldn't that make you poor too😅

[@cue1806]

The definition of poor varies from place to place. A poor person in the west is living a lavish life compared to a poor person in the east, watching KZbin is one thing I highly doubt is on there list of things to do

[@STAGENAMESERENA]

Unless you’re a KZbinr 🥰

[@enochmashingaidze2986]

Are we going to ignore the role france has played in spiralling west africa out of control?

[@toasttoasted3492]

Nope cause its France🤣😂

[@girliehaha]

Shhh vice dont want you telling the “whole truth” just a little bit of it lmao

[@queentron17]

Or America's role in moving drugs too. 🙄 this is "hey let's blame the colored people for our problems we caused"

[@Ipo024]

Was already rotten to the core. Nothing like this could possibly happen to a healthy and strong nation.

[@Ipo024]

@@queentron17 "problems we caused". Actually, it's their own fault if you even dare to look back into history.

[@motov80]

Him: There are drugs in West Africa Me: Always have been

[@carbon-based-lifeform9172]

@@girliehaha Well you really shouldnt because its now partly owned by george soros

[@Klauserasme]

@Derek Nelson you can't compare chattel slavery in America to west African slavery

[@Klauserasme]

@Derek Nelson yeah agreed but traditional African slavery was way different than Europe or the US slavery

[@sefp]

@Derek Nelson there was no, I repeat 0% slavery in west Africa or east Africa for that Matt before Middle Eastern and European rule/ dominant influence. There was only indentured servitude for those who couldn’t pay were in debt and criminals

[@sultan-nc6fh]

@Derek Nelson first it’s not call Islamic slaves trade it call Arab slaves trade and is started thousands of Year before Islam and lest tell the last century and the total estimated number of slaves around 10m how ever The Atlantic slaves trade just in 3 century the numbers were more than 100 m read history from Reliable source

[@arterca]

I used to live in Mali. A HUGE amount of drugs go through Mali on their way to Europe and North America. Middle Eastern heroin being trafficked on its way to Mauritania for shipment to the US, cocaine and other drugs being passed from the south to the north for Europe. The far north had been a hotbed of terrorist organizations who trafficked drugs for quite a while. I was in Mali during the coup (I didn't live far from the military base that it started at and had quite a few conversations with the guy who led it weeks before things kicked off). I'd be interested to know how the coup has affected the drug trade.

[@Gazz496]

Damn that guy only got 4 years? Sounds like a great deal

[@thibaultgnayoro9480]

He only got 4 years because he wasn’t Importing drugs into the United States

[@nafisahibrahim4291]

As a West African, this reporting is so under the surface and all over the place.

[@dolphin069]

@Kiki Kiki you confuse Vice for journalism my brothers.

[@ratchetrock6040]

@@dolphin069 lol

[@JJones-cl4dm]

Instead of a war on poverty they got a war on drugs so the police can bother me - Tupac

[@MusTafa-wp1nt]

Drugs are so expensive.

[@abdank9147]

Legalized drugs = more drug addiction = reckless spending = poverty

[@abdank9147]

And even if a drug addict found a sustainable job, how long do you think they’ll last with a drug addiction? You think you’d manage being a functioning member of society when drugs are the centerpiece of your life??

[@Odin355]

Yo yo!

[@davidz2808]

Drug addiction causes poverty. Tupac Shakur was a convicted sex offender. It's bizarre that he's idolised.

[@noonenick6420]

man i really love this show! the host is really calm and very likeable. i also love the fact that they're not justifying drugs rather exposing what's really wrong with war on drugs which the government really wants to keep in dark

[@stfu4159]

Never realized how close west africa is to brazil smh

[@metalheadblues]

Practically neighbors

[@corywilliams9007]

The world map is incorrect purposely....look it up.

[@corywilliams9007]

@Johnny Ola Exactly

[@corywilliams9007]

@Viper vibe You aight right for that one😆

Half of Brazilians are black for a reason

[@frenchjamdawg]

Thanks... this is so untold ... it’s been years

[@jeremytole3493]

Just imagine the tonnes of narcotics that have travelled through the veins of people around the world. Hell, sugar and salt probably take a back seat.

[@sajidah5278]

The audacity of the US charging foreign countries with drug trafficking lol

[@hustlehustlehustle]

The war on drugs is exactly what makes it such a lucrative business. You don't stop the demand by criminalizing the supply, you just create enormous profit margins for organized crime.

[@MeGotNoFeelings]

- Chief, we did it we confiscated 40 kilos of cocaine ... -20 kg ??? -in fact, leader, 10 kilos !!

[@maddestruction1]

There was an incident in my country where the cops said rats ate the cocaine that was seized lmao

[@MeGotNoFeelings]

@@maddestruction1 I know cops in my town that ask for 1 joint from junkies..

[@rosedank2255]

Guys Shop from Kaliscanabis21 on Snapchat he is reliable his weed quality is perfect just got some from him..

[@clownskill11]

It’s pretty hard to take someone in a supreme shirt seriously

[@qwertzuiop1230]

It’s pretty hard to take a clown serious

[@clownskill11]

@@qwertzuiop1230 ayeee it warranted a reply atleast 🤣

[@alexgalletly9968]

For realllll lmao I feel like Supreme is gonna die out and be laughed upon 5 years from now

[@ivanbraun7032]

@@alexgalletly9968 anyone who isn't laughing, is being actively laughed at

[@foxtailedcritter]

I love this series

[@brianmorenze]

You said it man! Super informative for enthusiasts like us ;-)

[@drewbocop]

damn this intern blew his entire paycheck on 1 long sleeve t shirt

[@DC69420]

I love this series. Good content.

[@nik_evdokimov]

Great series!

[@illmanicjabbie8967]

I am from The Gambia 🇬🇲 and he’s actually speaking facts...

[@ktsvany5469]

Sup up man, u know nothing about Guine Bissau. All lies, western propaganda. Wake up

[@ratchetrock6040]

@@ktsvany5469 agree

[@alexanderdraco2155]

How Weird Is It That I'm Watching This Video From Bissau

[@lunarvibes632]

amazing work once again

[@manlyprime4087]

Clicked so fast. This series is the only one worth watching from vice.

[@AMpr0d]

nice, same

[@brianmorenze]

This series is definitely good! But VIce isn't bad overall.. Come on they do their homework!

[@Juliettemnm69]

Waste of time and money, legalize it and tax the hell out of it. Seems like it’s not fun when you can’t sneak around!

[@Juliettemnm69]

@Josue Martinez Carrillo honestly I don’t do that stuff , it’s a waste playing cops and robbers! If someone chooses to pick that life style let them have at it.

[@TrueCrimeQueen]

Love this video! It’s so well produced. Stay safe everyone ✨🙏

[@Alex40498]

Best VICE series ever.

[@ebitda9691]

Great style of reporting, this is the Vice i fell in love with :)

[@evantemple4341]

I’m sure being in charge of their navy isn’t all that prestigious in the grand scheme

[@ChiTownGuerrilla]

We all know they would legalize it instantly if it wasn't making them loads of cash.

[@101penguinss101]

New billionaires would be made. Maybe even more powerful than big tech and that scares the crap out of globalists.

[@brucebehner4142]

@@101penguinss101 true, but more important than the monetary factor is the power that goes with it.

[@101penguinss101]

@@brucebehner4142 It would change the world for the better. People would understand we're all one in the same in this simulation we call life, and we influence people around us with our thoughts and actions.

[@brucebehner4142]

@@101penguinss101 Im not sure yet about for the better, as long as a few are making rules for the many, I call it unjust. But it could level the playing field a bit and if done right could shine the light on addiction and make it a moral issue instead of a so-called socio-economic disease.

[@101penguinss101]

@@brucebehner4142 I agree it isn't just roses and flowers it will have its drawbacks and it would be a huge project with hopefully the governments blessing. Addiction will always exist, we adults with coffee downers and stronger uppers and psychedelics and kids with sugar. I think it has to do more with dosage and personal responsibility and treat all drugs with the similar mentality as alcohol such as blame the user not the drug. We would need guidelines on how much and how often to take something that would have the same purity and strength everytime and not cut with additives

[@comelytravel]

Great video

[@kokoajay5540]

South Africa Capetown 🇿🇦

[@rohanpoddar2562]

Finally vice allows me to view their video in my country.

[@shahzeboy1609]

just use a VPN and you can watch anything anywhere

[@SophisticatedAss]

Did he just blame European Union banning cocaine as illegal drugs for the disaster in West Africa??? Excuse me???

[@marquezsmith746]

Guess u dont understand the Supply and Demand concept of business...

[@mikumartikainen954]

I was thinkin the same thing. North and south america is to blame in this drug epidemic in europe and west africa.

[@mikumartikainen954]

@@marquezsmith746 europeans dont smuggle those drugs and didnt star war on drugs, thats north and south americans fault

[@adamjackson3670]

Why are most of vices vids blocked in UK?

[@RickSuaz]

A very Dark Future, awaits us all if these Cartels aren't erased.

[@dustinevans2895]

This reminds me of MTV's 'Week In Rock' with Kurt Loder

[@ImanBalmain]

wait, what does the American DEA have to do with the interactions between Guinea-Bissau and other states?

[@TheColorTheft68]

They want the drugs to go through them how it used to be.. DEA agents aren't getting a cut, so they want to stop it.

[@yamidgaray9074]

I enjoy watching vice news ✔️

[@agentbubbles782]

As long as there is a demand for it people will keep supplying it.

[@bossmanq6504]

Y’all need a new guy to talk about drugs

[@MrKarolik]

Watching this channel makes me wanna do the line...

[@roosterking5272]

Years ago it was no reporting on this💯

[@erikkz]

That 727 didn't crash in the desert. It was abandoned there and set on fire by the traffickers.

[@frencebrand9905]

Landed in the desert.. Don't see that happen I mean what could go wrong landing a humongous plane in a sandy underground.. Nothing right?

[@minigrande1939]

The meterphoric way to describe "The war on Drugs"is like drug enforcement agencies claiming they are emptying a river of water with a bucket with succsess

[@gerardrbain1972]

It's all a huge dog and pony show.

[@reallynikki5720]

Have you seen the price of the clothing Vice sales!?!?! Bank account says no

[@Baababaadu]

Him :there are drugs in West Africa Me : I ain't see no drugs here

[@ScottishGoldHunter]

I am not surprised by this!

[@carvellidavis4672]

Vice keeps it real. Peace 7

[@TheDoomWizard]

I'm getting high rn. The world is a hideous & beautiful place.

[@luciusdyal8667]

cheers mate ill smoke to that

[@notrealy180217]

ok

[@drd5455]

Amen

[@replynotificationsdisabled]

RN?

[@Floridawg]

Hello I'm high, it's true it is :0

[@misskitty11able]

I love this guy. Keep him making content!!!

[@j.m.a.2684]

That has been happening for more than a decade at large scale. That has been the new route for a long time.

[@bigpoppa2895]

Ive been preaching this for years now. Free yayo!

[@mikeoxsbigg1]

I don't do it but might as well.

[@majesticmajestic7058]

Rush, rush, give me yayo! 😂

[@noirlily3413]

West Africa needs to be left alone... We've already been subjected to to slave trade!

[@marviz5215]

So was the indigenous people of the America's.

[@ratchetrock6040]

@@marviz5215 the ho ho kem? The first tribes in North America ? They came over the barring straight which melted nobody enslaved natives. Stop spreading false information.

[@huacatay-oil]

Left alone? What is that bs? Asif you’re an island? Keep on dreaming. Folks better start getting along. That killing mentality of the day after the drugs is what we all need to skip on. We are a globe, not a cave. Stop radicalising.

[@Dreamcreamzortardius]

Time to learn

[@albete116]

This is the best series on KZbin. Wish drugs will become legal one day so people wont suffer from This anymore.

[@clambo7786]

fuckno

[@albete116]

@@clambo7786 why?

[@Nalkin913]

Was interesting until they blamed Europe for keeping it illegal 😂

[@jxnfrd4049]

Congrats to Drugs for winning the war.

[@LemSportsinterviews]

yall put tape over the JVC logo on the close-ups but not the other shots lol

[@marioalberto34844]

Never say never!!!! You are just cursing yourself.

[@__Mr.P]

Shout out to Drugs For always winning the war on Drugs :)

[@batbawls]

Lore enforcement sounds interesting, tell me more

[@introspectah]

Hahaha 😁 Mandatory Witcher Material!!

[@kiturselassie813]

What a broken world

[@androiddanger]

The music was quite upbeat considering the topic...

[@TrinaPorter]

They're doing it across the American b.o.r.d.e.r too.

[@AM-vk2yq]

Yeah theyve been doing it for nearly a century. Its not news.

[@NY-ku5wp]

KZbin snitching lol

[@jak3w]

D u h lol

[@marioalberto34844]

Wow really I don't think no one knows that. That is crazy how do you know that!!!! Did you know americans traffic guns, grenades, and ammo to mexico. And they buy the drugs from the mexicans and sell them in the U.S. And the government knows , and so they blame mexico so mexico wouldn't blame them first.

[@1991enduro]

@@hey.sanoop yes with there lsd experiments

[@CYMWorld]

Ivory Coast is heavily involved in cocaine business today

[@georgekobani7600]

Great report. Very ominous. Africa has enough problems already. I’m curious about the impact of trafficking on the larger west African states like Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d’ Ivoire

[@ratchetrock6040]

I haven’t heard about the Ivory Coast 🇨🇮 having a cartel problem.

[@populiervogel.148]

First background music reminds me Berlin vibe with 1 cool sunglass and walk like a stoned

[@wdsftygt]

The drug of responsibility and purpose has yet to become addictive in the region.

[@badonebadone4778]

3:40 as long as u are only jailing key players for 4 yrs then you aint solving nuttin. 100milly+ for 4 yrs? Jokers

[@markpalmercomedy]

Thanks for cheering me up

[@methatguy]

i know right? the war on opiods and heroin cheered me up as well.😐

[@grahammorris9923]

When did vice start doing cheap crappy docs?😞

[@gmoneyced557]

Why dont they start becoming dealers themselves

[@euphonikprince8801]

The drug that goes trough the Cape Verde to Europe goes mostly in Ships carrying coconuts....

[@vatolocosforever803]

Africa ,,you need to build the wall.. Make Africa great again

[@ekuaserwaah]

Just last week I saw a coca plant grown infront of some one's home.

[@ujjwalchauhan4415]

0:55 noob spotted 😂😂

[@dueldab2117]

after hearing her say Meta-phet-a-min I forget the proper way to pronounce it.

[@mindyabizniss]

🤣🤣🤣

[@mindyabizniss]

@Rafael Dejesus I'm British so no its not how to pronounce it

[@Pllayer064]

@@mindyabizniss I'm not British but I approve this message.

[@kinderboeken55]

@@mindyabizniss briish

[@mindyabizniss]

@@kinderboeken55 haha I do actually pronounce my T's as do most of us

[@redpool1141]

Soo netflix is gonna make for Narcos Guinea Bissau i suppose ?

[@emanc1384]

Supply and Demand

[@thatsenoughreally4609]

Ok so look at the closest place you can land after airborn and avoid the pirates you'll have places like this so the pirates cant jack air taffic and places like spain and italy get the lions share depending who controls the ports and whos shipments arrive first...

[@ChrisTian-yw7jc]

What?

[@Thatguy55595]

Why do I always see 666 when I’m looking at KZbin likes and comments and other places on the internet.. It’s really annoying

[@marcusgarvey8388]

666

[@Thatguy55595]

@@marcusgarvey8388 lol liked your own comment good job

[@santiagotorres6163]

Colombia from 70s until today better say

[@tcideh4929]

Estimated at 2 billion a year. Oh... thats not that much.

[@tamonpridnice8329]

No such thing as a war on drugs people love doin drugs And it's a lucrative business

[@panier66]

They should do Singapore and Japan to see places where the war on drugs has "won". But I'm betting they won't.

[@painpatientsaddiction3640]

Drugs will never stop decriminalize drugs

[@haloali130]

I’m Nigerian and my country just elected a drug dealer 😂

[@jamesh4757]

Not surprising. I've been to a few countries in West Africa including Guina Bissau, and it's effectively lawless in places. The corruption of police is so brazen its very shocking to a westerner at first. I was in Guinea Bissau and apparently there's a place near the capital where you can go and see drug packages dropped off by helcopter....

[@EspeertinhuCA]

😳

[@gerardrbain1972]

The very same things happened in the Caribbean during the 1970's through to the 1980's.

[@PHlophe]

Lawless is far fetched then I was actually there throughout 2019 . no need to dramatize this. we know this war on drugs ends overnight if european and anorth american customers stop buying that powder. those 2 continents alone are the sole reason millions of people are dying because of this.

[@rosedank2255]

Guys Shop from Kaliscanabis21 on Snapchat he is reliable his weed quality is perfect just got some from him

[@azzarooni8532]

another War on Drugs video without legitimate referencing and a whole lot of speculation 👌

[@tkautzor]

Calling the Guinea-Bissau Navy "the Navy of an entire country" is really too much of an overstatement.

[@0dyss3us51]

You forgot about Venzuela as a narco state

[@durkadurka1926]

Why am I getting my drug news from a 12 year old?

[@oksowhat]

why do people consume drugs? if there is no market there is no smuggling

[@TRUMPisOPPA]

👌🏽 Hard drugs are totally pointless and destroy one’s life.

[@PASTRAMIKick]

exactly... People are just fucking stupid I guess, they fund all if these operations.

[@javioso8714]

That music had cody webster vibes