Nigeria, April 14 -- The consumption of illicit drugs in West Africa is increasing at an alarming rate. Nigeria is said to be a significant transit, source and destination market for illicit drugs, according to the Global Organised Crime Index. The country serves as a destination and transhipment hub from where criminal groups, in collaboration with cartels based in Pakistan and Afghanistan, contribute to coordinate the transhipment of cocaine. States like Edo and Kano serve as centres from where illicit drugs are ferried through African trade routes onwards to Europe and other parts of the world. The abuse of prescription drugs like opioids - morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl, tramadol - among others are widespread. Evidence has emerged of t...