Illegal Drug Trade in Africa Trends and U.S. Policy Wyler, Liana S Cook, Nicholas Drug A rise in illicit drug trafficking in Africa in recent years has drawn the attention of U.S. policy makers. The 110th Congress, for instance, passed P.L. 110-417, which required that the Department of Defense submit a report to Congress laying out a counternarcotics strategy for the region, among other related goals. The issue has also arisen in the 111th Congress. On June 23, 2009, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing entitled Confronting Drug Trafficking in West Africa, and other recent hearings have also referenced this issue. President Barack Obama has also highlighted the challenge posed by drug trafficking in Africa, which he has stated “threatens stability” throughout West Africa. USA Congressional Research Service 2009. 2009. Text 53p http://iffoadatabase.trustafrica.org/iff/illegal_drug_trade_in_africa_trends_and_u.s._policy.pdf