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Mozambique a new drug hub, Interpol says

Mozambique, in southern Africa, has increasingly become a hub for moving illegal drugs from Latin America to Europe, the international police agency Interpol warned.

By Ed Adamczyk
Seized cocaine (rlw/ec/EARL S. CRYER/UPI)
Seized cocaine (rlw/ec/EARL S. CRYER/UPI) | License Photo

MAPUTO , Mozambique, April 23 (UPI) -- Mozambique, in southern Africa, has increasingly become a hub for moving illegal drugs from Latin America to Europe, the international police agency Interpol warned.

It noted a shift from West Africa, long regarded as the shipping point for various drugs consumed in South Africa and Europe. In the capital city of Maputo, Ronald Noble, Interpol secretary-general, said the agency would help Mozambique fight the narcotics trade. Noble’s visit came several weeks after the United States identified Mozambican businessman Mohamed Bachir Suleman as an international drug kingpin, saying he is a “large-scale narcotics trafficker” and “his network contributes to the growing trend of narcotics trafficking and money laundering across southern Africa.” Suleman has denied the accusation. The Mozambique government said it has no reason to indict him and has asked the United States to aid in an investigation.

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U.S. authorities said Mozambique is a shipment point for hashish, marijuana, cocaine and heroin.

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