Drugs Financing Terrorism

Terrorist organizations are sponsoring drug trade in the Arab World along with providing protection for smuggling routes.

Heads of Arab anti-drug agencies recently concluded a two-day conference in Tunis with calls for activating co-operation to crack down on the narcotics trade.

Arab Interior Ministers' Council Secretary-General Mohamed Ibn Ali Koumen said at the meeting, which ended on October 4th , "the transformations that have defined the Arab region since last year have left the borders of some countries hazy".

"Smuggling gangs including drug cartels benefit from this situation. The insecurity at some of these borders has strengthened the links between organised crime gangs, allowing the drug trade to finance terrorism."

High-ranking officials from Arab states, representatives of the Arab League, the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), as well as university professors and security experts attended the event.

Drug operations expanded after the Arab Spring uprisings because security organizations had other crises needing attention.