“Poor Man’s Cocaine”
Tramadol is a pain-relieving drug that acts as a stimulant in large doses, which is why it has been dubbed the “poor man’s cocaine.” This drug is produced in India and then transported through the Democratic Republic of Congo to the Central African Republic, where its distribution is handled by members of the Wagner group.
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The drug is most often sold to local miners, participants in pro-Russian rallies, fighters, as well as members of the presidential guard and the militarized “Sharks” group subordinate to them.
According to data from Uppsala University, the increase in tramadol use in the Central African Republic coincided with nearly a 20% rise in deaths in battles over control of the country’s regions.
Moreover, this drug helps the private military group Wagner maintain control over gold mining – which brings it about 180 million USD per year, and its smuggling into neighboring countries, including Sudan, ensures additional income.
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Leadership Taken Over by Prigozhin’s Son Pavel
According to WSJ estimates, there are still about 500 mercenaries in the Central African Republic led by J. Prigozhin’s son Pavel. According to the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, the private military company Wagner has effectively enslaved the republic, deeply integrating into the local political and military system.
After the mutiny and the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin in 2023, the Russian authorities declared that the group would be disbanded and its activities in Africa and the Middle East would come under the control of the Russian Ministry of Defense. However, as reported by the BBC, Wagner essentially continued its activities in the Central African Republic in the previous format.
