South American drug cartels have been identified as one of the sources of fund for terror organizations, Ansaru and Boko Haram.
This revelation was contained in a report entitled, “Terrorism in Northern Africa and the Sahel in 2012: Global Reach and Implications,” and published by the Director, Inter-University Centre for Terrorism Studies, USA, Yonah Alexander, in February 2013.
According to the 33 page report:
“The threats of Al-Qaida’s new regional hub in northern Mali and from its associates constitute both tactical and strategic challenges.
“Primary sources of financing of their activities include kidnapping (in some cases, kidnapping is outsourced to criminals), piracy and illicit trafficking of drugs, human, vehicles and other contraband goods.
“Intelligence reports and arrests have confirmed that AQIM has established links with Latin cartels for ‘drugs-for-arms’ smuggling into Europe through terrorist-trafficking networks in the Sahel.”
The drugs-for-arms model is said to be hinged on the porosity of the porous borders of the countries in the region.
NDLEA spokesperson, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the NDLEA was aware of the practice and was reviewing it.
He said, “We are aware of the report. The agency is conducting a critical investigation on that angle. The outcome of the investigation would determine what step to take next. But as far as NDLEA is concerned, we are not overlooking anything.”