As Prepared For Delivery

“I very pleased to be holding this hearing today – particularly because this is an issue that urgently requires more attention.  I am hopeful that by holding this hearing, we can highlight the critical need for greater engagement, attention and, quite likely, more resources to fully address this problem.

“Over the last few years, there has been a sharp rise in the quantity of cocaine transiting through West Africa from Latin America en route to Europe.  The U.N. Office of Drugs and Crime now estimates there are roughly 50 tons of cocaine being smuggled a year, worth almost two billion dollars.  The region’s vast and porous borders and coastline, and weak governance infrastructure including poorly regulated airfields and limited law enforcement capacity have made it a perfect hub for traffickers trying to reach Europe’s growing cocaine markets.  

“According to the U.N., there are increasing signs that Latin American cocaine trafficking syndicates have been expanding into the region, possibly linking up with Nigerian-dominated criminal groups that have been actively smuggling heroin for years.  Though the quantities of smuggled heroin pale in comparison to the current amounts of smuggled cocaine, it is worth noting that West Africa has long been one of several transit points for heroin from South Asia to the United States.

“This new trend is deeply alarming, not only in terms of our global counternarcotics goals but because of the potential impact on the many weak states in West Africa.  The recent unrest in Guinea-Bissau and coups in Guinea and Mauritania are only the most recent illustrations of the volatile political environments easily susceptible to illicit drug trafficking.  In some states, such as Guinea-Bissau, the influx of drugs has already started to corrupt and hollow out governance institutions.  If we don’t act soon, this dynamic could become entrenched and could undermine governance throughout the region.

“At the same time, the massive profits gained from the drug trade can potentially be used to fund criminal and violent enterprises in the region, if they aren’t already, which further exacerbates instability.  We saw in the 1990s how an influx of illicit money fuelled violent conflict in Sierra Leone and Liberia.  Even more worrying, synergies could form between drug trafficking and terrorist groups, such as al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

“In holding today’s subcommittee hearing I hope to sound the alarm on this growing problem and these potential threats.  I’ve discussed this problem recently with the Foreign Ministers of Nigeria and Sierra Leone, and know it is a top priority for leaders across West Africa and our ambassadors there.  As President Obama prepares to travel to Ghana next month, I hope this issue will be part of his agenda – as Ghana is a major hub through which cocaine enters the region.

“Today’s hearing is also an attempt to explore what efforts are currently being made by the U.S. and our partners in response to this problem, and how we can best expand and strengthen those efforts. 

“It’s clear that the ultimate solution to this problem is to address state weakness -- to help regional governments to strengthen their institutions, with a particular focus on law enforcement agencies, judiciary and coast guards.  But we also have to consider how to build effective short-term solutions – including effective interdiction capacity – to ensure these countries are not flooded with illicit narcotics in the interim.  

“Indeed, we need a short-term plan to help identify and prosecute individuals and disrupt organizations that are behind this trafficking.  We won’t be able to stop everyone, but we can and we must raise the cost of trafficking drugs through West Africa before this problem becomes entrenched throughout the region.  The challenge of course is to do so in a way that works with, not against, our long-term goals of governance and stability.  I look forward to hearing from all our witnesses today about the current efforts under way and how we can best navigate these serious challenges.”