Wagner remnants profit from African opioid trade

🇨🇫 CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC — Former Wagner Group operatives are allegedly managing an expansive illicit drug smuggling network across the Central African Republic. Reports indicate the organization now leverages the same infrastructure used for gold and diamond smuggling to traffic opioids into regional markets. Analysts suggest the operation persists under the influence of Pavel Prigozhin to finance continued influence in the Sahel.

First reported by hindustantimes.com · developing for 3 hours · hindustantimes.com

Why it matters

This highlights the transformation of paramilitary remnants into criminal enterprises that destabilize regional security.

Context

Wagner-linked operations have shifted from military consulting to controlling supply chains for illicit commodities across central Africa.