Trafficking in Medical Products in Central Africa

Overview

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report on trafficking in medical products in Central Africa, developed in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Commission of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), sheds new light on the scale and characteristics of this phenomenon in the region.

Based on an analysis of data collected across all CEMAC member States, the report provides a comprehensive overview of the medical products being trafficked. It shows that the phenomenon affects a wide range of therapeutic categories. The report also examines the geography of criminal flows, the modi operandi observed and the diversity of actors involved. Beyond describing the phenomenon, the report analyses its consequences for public health, national economies and security. In particular, it highlights the serious health risks posed by the circulation of substandard and falsified medical products, the revenue that States lose to criminal economies, and the growing appeal of these products to organized criminal networks.

By improving understanding of trafficking in medical products in Central Africa, this publication is a key reference for national authorities, international partners and all stakeholders engaged in the fight against organized crime.