US Warns Mexican Cartels Target West Africa

The United States warned on Tuesday that Mexican drug cartels are targeting West Africa as an alternative trafficking corridor following major counter-narcotics busts in Nigeria.

Visiting the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) headquarters in Abuja, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Michael Gonzales commended Nigerian authorities for dismantling four industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratories linked to Mexican cartels this year.

Gonzales explained that intensified American pressure on syndicates in the Western Hemisphere is forcing cartels to seek new routes to reach European and Asian markets.

US warns Mexican cartels target West Africa (News Central TV) — U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Michael Gonzales. Credit: United States Department of State

Highlighted operations included raids in Ogun and Oyo states, where officers arrested Mexican methamphetamine experts alongside Nigerian collaborators while seizing illicit substances valued over $360 million.

NDLEA Chairman Buba Marwa urged continued bilateral intelligence sharing, describing Nigerian interdictions as “forward defence for communities in the United States.”

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Abisoye Adeyiga

Abisoye Adedoyin Adeyiga holds a PhD in Languages and Media Studies and a Master’s in Education (English Language). Trained in digital marketing and investigative journalism, she is passionate about new media’s transformative power. She enjoys reading, traveling, and meaningful conversations.