Tramadol in Africa: How drug trafficking thrives where pain relief is scarce
West and Central Africa account for 97% of all tramadol seizures worldwide. The illicit trade in the painkiller thrives in a region where access to essential medication remains desperately limited. Here is our investigation in infographics.
The Africa ReportPar Julie Desrousseauxmardi 13 octobre 2026 à 12:00
Inside sacks of flour arriving from Cameroon, Gabonese customs officers discovered 77,500 tramadol tablets – nearly 19kg of pills carefully concealed. The operation in Bitam, northern Gabon, in November 2025, bore all the hallmarks of drug trafficking.
Mis à jour 13 oct.