How former Wagner mercenaries fund operations with opioid trafficking in africa
How former Wagner mercenaries are allegedly funding their operations with opioid trafficking in Africa
Investigations suggest ex-fighters linked to the Wagner Group are relying on tramadol smuggling in Central Africa to sustain their activities.
Three years after the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the networks he established in Africa remain active. Recent investigations indicate that the smuggling of tramadol, a powerful opioid painkiller, has become a key revenue stream for former Wagner Group mercenaries operating in the region.
Reports indicate that around 500 former Wagner fighters, including the late leader’s son Pavel Prigozhin, remain stationed in the Central African Republic following the group’s disbandment in August 2023. Since then, Russia has reportedly shifted many of Wagner’s overseas operations to state-controlled entities.
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