What began as a shadowy military operation in the heart of Africa has morphed into a full-blown drug trafficking empire in the Central African Republic. The Russian paramilitary group Wagner, despite recent setbacks in Europe, has found a lucrative lifeline in the illicit tramadol trade, breathing new life into its faltering African operations.

The antalgic medication, originally prescribed for mild to moderate pain, has been repackaged and concentrated to dangerous levels. Its potency now rivals that of cocaine, earning it the grim nickname “poor man’s cocaine” across the region’s underground markets.

By Yacouba Ouédraogo — Investigative journalist