The Wagner Group has built what experts describe as a “drug empire” in the Central African Republic, where tramadol trafficking has given its operations a surprising boost.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the illicit trade of this opioid—often repackaged and concentrated—has revitalized the Russian paramilitary group’s presence in a country long overlooked by Western observers. Originally prescribed for mild pain, tramadol’s altered form has earned it the nickname “poor man’s cocaine” due to its potent, stimulant effects.
Despite suffering major setbacks after the death of founder Evgueni Prigojine in 2023 and facing competition from Russia’s official Africa Corps, Wagner maintains a stronghold in Bangui. With around 500 fighters under the command of Prigojine’s son, Pavel, the group continues to exert significant influence over the Central African Republic’s political and economic landscape.
a fertile ground for illicit operations
The Central African Republic’s strategic position and abundant natural resources—including gold, diamonds, uranium, and timber—create ideal conditions for Wagner’s expansion. Analysts note that the country receives far less scrutiny from Western governments than its neighbors, allowing the group to operate with minimal oversight.
Wagner’s mining operations alone generate an estimated $180 million annually, according to the Global Initiative, with illicit mineral exports complementing its control over state institutions. The U.S.-funded Center for Strategic Studies for Africa has described Wagner’s influence as a “capture of the state.”
tramadol: a weapon of influence
Tramadol, smuggled via the Congo River from the Democratic Republic of Congo, floods Central African markets. Wagner oversees its distribution, selling it at inflated prices across the region. The group supplies the drug not only to civilians but also to elite presidential guards, pro-government militias like the ‘Sharks,’ opposition crackdown squads, and gold miners working under their protection.
The report highlights that Wagner provides tramadol to combatants involved in counter-insurgency operations, allegedly to “boost their fighting spirit.” Experts quoted in The Wall Street Journal warn of a potential spillover into neighboring Sudan, where Wagner could leverage ties with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) operating near the Central African border.
