An international report classifies Tunisia as an emerging market for cocaine

According to a joint report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Programme to Strengthen Africa's Response to Transnational Organized Crime, Tunisia is an emerging but expanding market for cocaine. Today's report made clear that this shift is closely linked to the increasing flow of illegal cargoes through regional routes.

The data showed that consumption of the substance is mainly concentrated among eligible categories within coastal cities as a result of rising circulating prices, with the selling price per gram reaching around 300 dinars. Local distribution networks are based on rising smuggling routes across the 460-kilometre land border with Libya, which use a major gateway for drug trafficking to European markets.

A program to strengthen Africa's response to transnational organised crime has reported that the trade area in Tunisia is continuing to expand despite the current small market size. International estimates have linked the rise of organized crime networks and the increase in cross-border traffic, as smugglers seek to open additional ports for their transboundary shipments.

Official figures reflect this upward trend, with customs interests booking more than 101 kilograms of cocaine during the first nine months of 2026, compared to 94 kilograms in all of 2025 and about 33 kilograms in 2024. Previous field operations have frustrated the smuggling of high-profile shipments, including seizure of about 30 kilograms hidden inside a car across the Ras Al-Ghadir border in February 2026, while Law No. 52 of 1992 revised Law No. 39 of 2017 frames penalties for drug possession, consumption and promotion offences.

At the next stage, authorities intend to strengthen field control procedures and equipment along border ports, as well as intensify preventive campaigns to counter the spread of domestic abuse.