In recent years, West Africa has faced a burgeoning crisis involving a synthetic drug known as “kush,” which has emerged as a significant threat to public health and safety. This alarming trend, with Sierra Leone at its epicentre, has likely resulted in the deaths of thousands of individuals across the region. The drug has rapidly spread to neighbouring countries, including Liberia, Guinea, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Senegal, leading to severe health implications and prompting national emergencies declared by the presidents of Sierra Leone and Liberia in April 2024.
Kush is a synthetic drug that contains a mixture of potent substances, including nitazenes—highly addictive synthetic opioids comparable to fentanyl—and synthetic cannabinoids. A recent report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) and the Clingendael Institute sheds light on the origins, trafficking routes, and impacts of kush, as well as the urgent need for coordinated action to mitigate its harmful effects.
Chemical testing of kush samples has revealed that over 50% contain nitazenes, which are notorious for their lethality and potential to cause fatal overdoses. The remaining samples primarily consist of synthetic cannabinoids. The report highlights that many of these substances are imported from countries such as China, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, utilizing maritime routes, air travel, and postal courier services. However, there remains uncertainty about whether the kush ingredients exported from European countries include nitazenes or solely synthetic cannabinoids.
The dynamics of the kush market have shifted dramatically since its emergence. Initially dominated by large organized groups, the market has become increasingly fragmented, with smaller actors establishing their operations. This decentralization has led to a proliferation of players involved in the production, trafficking, and distribution of kush, including “locks” (intermediaries), “cooks” (individuals who mix the drug components), and retailers. Each of these roles carries distinct profit margins and responsibilities, contributing to a complex and localized protection system that sometimes intersects with state-embedded actors.
The report emphasizes the urgent need for a comprehensive and coordinated response to the Kush crisis on multiple fronts. First, it calls for improved monitoring, early warning systems, testing, and information-sharing across West Africa. This would facilitate a better understanding of the drug’s prevalence and its impact on communities, enabling authorities to respond more effectively.
Second, the report underscores the necessity of disrupting supply chains originating from China, the Netherlands, and the UK. This involves tightening scrutiny at key entry points, such as maritime ports, international airports, and postal services, to prevent the influx of these dangerous substances into West Africa. The responsibility for addressing this crisis extends beyond the region itself, as international trafficking routes play a pivotal role in the proliferation of kush.
Lastly, the report advocates for harm reduction strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of kush consumption. This includes increasing access to treatment and support programs for individuals struggling with addiction, as well as public education campaigns aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of synthetic drugs. Additionally, the report emphasizes the importance of providing medications that can reverse opioid overdoses, a critical tool in saving lives amidst the growing crisis.
The emergence of kush in West Africa represents a significant milestone in the evolution of the region’s drug threat landscape. The rapid expansion of the kush market, coupled with its devastating health impacts, has exposed the vulnerabilities of West Africa’s healthcare systems. With a predominantly young population and limited resources to combat drug addiction, the region faces a long-term challenge that requires immediate attention.
Lucia Bird, director of GI-TOC’s Observatory of Illicit Economies in West Africa, highlighted the need for evidence-based responses to the crisis. “Through our work in West Africa, we kept hearing about kush, but there was a lot of hearsay and myth with very little evidence,” she stated. “Without this data, it was impossible to build an effective response.”
Dr. Kars de Bruijne, head of the West Africa and Sahel programme at the Clingendael Institute, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the shared responsibility of source countries in addressing the Kush crisis. “All three countries—China, the Netherlands, and the UK—own part of the responsibility for the Kush crisis and the harm to people in Sierra Leone and West Africa more broadly,” he noted.
The report’s findings serve as a wake-up call for governments, law enforcement agencies, and public health officials in West Africa and beyond. The influx of cheap, addictive, and harmful synthetic drugs into a region with inadequate health systems signals a growing and persistent drug problem that demands immediate and coordinated action.
In conclusion, the crisis surrounding kush in West Africa is a multifaceted challenge that requires a comprehensive response from local and international stakeholders. By strengthening monitoring and information-sharing, disrupting supply chains, and implementing harm reduction strategies, there is hope for mitigating the devastating impact of this synthetic drug on communities across the region. The time for action is now, as the consequences of inaction could be dire for the future of West Africa and its people.
