Praia — At a high level conference on drug trafficking as a security threat to West Africa in Praia, Cape Verde, the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Antonio Maria Costa has warned that West Africa is at risk of becoming an epicentre for drug trafficking and the crime and corruption associated with it.

A report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime launched at the meeting on Tuesday showed that at least 50 tons of cocaine from the Andean countries is transiting West Africa every year, heading north where they are worth almost $2 billion on the streets of European cities.

The report also uncovered that most cocaine entering Africa from South America make landfall around Guinea-Bissau in the north and Ghana in the South. According to the report, drugs mules shipped much of the drugs to Europe on commercial flights and that majority of air couriers seem to be coming from Guinea, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal destined for France, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Mr. Costa pointed out that the problem is getting worse in that cocaine seizures have doubled every year for the past three years from 1,323 kilogram in the year 2005 to 3,161 in 2006. He noted that the number also increased to 6,458 in 2007 and that major seizures were made 2008 including 600 kilos of cocaine found in a plane, with fake Red Cross markings, at the Freetown Sierra Leone this summer.

Mr. Costa also indicated that local police are ill equipped to deal with the threat and those prosecutors and judges lack the evidence or the will to bring to justice powerful criminals with powerful friends.

The UN top official warned that time is running out and that the threat is spreading throughout the region, turning the Gold Coast into Coke Coast. He said Narco-trafficking, through a vulnerable region that has never previously faced a drugs problem is preventing weak economies, evident by the unusual appreciation of currencies and inflows of foreign direct investment.

"It is also corrupting senior officials, and poisoning the youth by spreading addiction and criminality", the official said. This is more than drugs problem, it is a threat to public health and security in West Africa," he added.

Mr. Costa underlined the importance of promoting development and strengthening the rule of law in order to reduce vulnerability to drugs and crime. He also called on governments of the region to strengthen integrity and criminal justice to stop the corruption that is enabling criminals to infiltrate their countries.

He urged the international community to provide the assistance needed to help the countries under attack to regain control of their coasts and airspace, and train special police forces to investigate organized crime and drug trafficking.

In a welcome statement, the President of the Economic Community of West African States Commission, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas commended the President of Cape Verde, Pedro Pires and his government for hosting the Conference on drugs.

He also praised the Chairman of ECOWAS, Blaise Compraore for gracing the occasion. According to him, this showed his support in combating drug trafficking in the region.

Dr. Chambas highlighted some of the constraints faced by the region to drug trafficking and the consequences to the security, health and development and called on all of ECOWAS partners to support the implementation of a realistic, time bound and coasted ECOWAS Regional Response Plan.

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa, Said Djinnit zho spoke on behalf of the Secretary General; Ban Ki Moon highlighted the great concern over the alarming surge in drug trafficking in the region, and its consequences on the youth.

He stated that the West African region faced with serious challenges of food, fuel and illegal drug trade could is now further weaken by the effects of global financial crises.

At the Praia meeting, Ministers of ECOWAS member states agreed to a political Declaration on Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime in West Africa and an ECOWAS Regional Response Plan