Since the end of internal hostilities in late 1992, Mozambique has moved from having little involvement in the international drug trade to one of the more active transit countries on the African continent. This has happened in a remarkably short space of time causing serious concern to both the Government and to its neighbours. The drug phenomenon arrived in Mozambique and developed with greater speed than it has in other countries in Africa. The drug control situation in Mozambique poses a threat by serving as a transit point for illicit drugs being shipped to the South African market and as a transshipment point for substances from source countries, generally in SW Asia, heading for the major northern markets. There are reports of abuse of cocaine and heroin use especially among the expatriate community resident in Maputo.
Police report no instances of crack abuse to date.
Mozambique is served by three major sea ports, all are utilised effectively by traffickers. Most container shipments arriving in Maputo and Beira are from Durban in South Africa. The seizures within Mozambique, coupled with ongoing intelligence, indicate that substantial shipments of cannabis resin are being imported into the country from Pakistan by sea. South West Asians dominate this trade utilizing local resources as necessary. The drugs are exclusively for transshipment.