Drug czar ‘in the middle’ on whether drugs fund terrorism in Africa

Last year, I wrote several posts on the theory, being advanced by a number of senior lawmakers, that the trafficking of cocaine through West Africa to Europe might be used to fund Al Qaeda activities in North Africa. While the potential for this taking place certainly makes sense, beyond one case in Ghana where the ...

By , a former associate editor at Foreign Policy.

Last year, I wrote several posts on the theory, being advanced by a number of senior lawmakers, that the trafficking of cocaine through West Africa to Europe might be used to fund Al Qaeda activities in North Africa. While the potential for this taking place certainly makes sense, beyond one case in Ghana where the FARC narcotraficantes turned out to be DEA agents, there didn't seem to be much evidence that it had ever taken place.

Last year, I wrote several posts on the theory, being advanced by a number of senior lawmakers, that the trafficking of cocaine through West Africa to Europe might be used to fund Al Qaeda activities in North Africa. While the potential for this taking place certainly makes sense, beyond one case in Ghana where the FARC narcotraficantes turned out to be DEA agents, there didn’t seem to be much evidence that it had ever taken place.

This week, FP Editor in Chief Susan Glasser and I  had the chance to speak with White House Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske. I was curious to hear what he thought of the theory. Here’s what he had to say:

I’ve heard quite a bit about the concerns in Europe and the U.K. of, particularly, cocaine being transited through West Africa into other countries. … I think all of the evidence, both anecdotal and intelligence-wise says that this is a problem. You have countries with far less infrastructure, or even no infrastructure. And the potential to corrupt whatever government is there, including military governments, as a result of drug trafficking, should be a very serious concern not just to the United States, but to other countries as well.

FP: Certainly we’ve seen plenty of the discussion of the potential of the drug trade to be used to fund extremist groups in these countries, but have we seen actual evidence that this has actually happened?

 The last published piece that I saw, it wasn’t long after 9/11, asked this very hard question: Can’t drug trafficking fuel terrorist activity within another country or in the United States? The conclusion of the report several years ago was that they did not see evidence that drug profits were fueling that type of violence.

I’m not sure of what reports are being done now, looking at it, but I’d say that on the one hand, it would be foolish to discredit the idea that there are drug trafficking organizations that are using those funds to support some type of extremism and terrorism. On the other hand, this office got into a little difficulty using a Super Bowl commercial suggesting that if you’re using drugs, you’re fueling terrorism. I think I’m kind of right in the middle on it.

Be sure to check out the rest of the interview, in which we discuss Mexico’s drug war, his opposition to marijuana legalization, and how Americans have "become much better at producing drugs" like pot and crystal meth. Who said U.S. manufacturing can’t be competitive?  

Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating

More from Foreign Policy

Newspapers in Tehran feature on their front page news about the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, signed in Beijing the previous day, on March, 11 2023.
Newspapers in Tehran feature on their front page news about the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, signed in Beijing the previous day, on March, 11 2023.

Saudi-Iranian Détente Is a Wake-Up Call for America

The peace plan is a big deal—and it’s no accident that China brokered it.

Austin and Gallant stand at podiums side by side next to each others' national flags.
Austin and Gallant stand at podiums side by side next to each others' national flags.

The U.S.-Israel Relationship No Longer Makes Sense

If Israel and its supporters want the country to continue receiving U.S. largesse, they will need to come up with a new narrative.

Russian President Vladimir Putin lays flowers at the Moscow Kremlin Wall in the Alexander Garden during an event marking Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin lays flowers at the Moscow Kremlin Wall in the Alexander Garden during an event marking Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow.

Putin Is Trapped in the Sunk-Cost Fallacy of War

Moscow is grasping for meaning in a meaningless invasion.

An Iranian man holds a newspaper reporting the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, in Tehran on March 11.
An Iranian man holds a newspaper reporting the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, in Tehran on March 11.

How China’s Saudi-Iran Deal Can Serve U.S. Interests

And why there’s less to Beijing’s diplomatic breakthrough than meets the eye.