Trans-Saharan Drug and Human Trafficking Routes: Nigeria’s Law Enforcement Diplomacy in the Sahel

This study examines Nigeria's law enforcement diplomacy in addressing trans-Saharan drug and human trafficking routes that connect West African origins to North African transit points and European destination markets, assessing the bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms Nigeria has developed with Sahelian and North African states. Nigeria is both a source and transit country for human trafficking and drug flows, with trafficking networks extending from the North West and South South zones through Niger, Libya, and across the Mediterranean. Drawing on transnational crime governance frameworks and law enforcement cooperation theory, this research analyses Nigeria's cooperative arrangements with Niger, Mali, Algeria, and Libya from 2019 to 2024, examining institutional frameworks, operational outcomes, and the impact of Sahel political instability on cooperation quality. The study employs a qualitative methodology, drawing on NDLEA and NAPTIP (National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons) annual reports, UNODC regional assessments, diplomatic communiques, and expert interviews with trafficking researchers. Findings are expected to show that Nigeria's law enforcement diplomacy in the Sahel is significantly disrupted by the wave of coups and political instability in the region, undermining previously established cooperation channels. Recommendations address building resilient cooperation architectures that can withstand political discontinuities in partner states. Keywords: human trafficking, drug trafficking, Sahel, Nigeria, law enforcement diplomacy.