Heroin has been one of Mozambique's biggest exports for two decades and the business continues to grow. Produced in Afghanistan, the heroin passes through Pakistan, enters the sea in northern Mozambique and follows the road to Johannesburg and then to Europe.
This route has been holding steady for 25 years. It is estimated that every year 40 tons or more of heroin moves through Mozambique. With an export value of around US$20 million per ton, heroin is probably the largest or second largest product exported by the country, after coal. It is estimated that for every ton that transits Mozambique, at least US$2 million remain in the country, in profits, bribes and payments to senior Mozambican figures.
Part of the trade is still controlled by Mozambique's traditional drug lords, protected by senior political leaders. However, a new informal trade is emerging, organized by people from outside Mozambique, using WhatsApp.
This report details what is known about the heroin trade, its political ties, and how the international community has chosen to ignore the illegal trade.
The report in English will be published on Tuesday at http://www.lse.ac.uk/international-development/research-and-publications/working-papers
