although the economic community of west african states ecowas has made efforts to counter the impact of drug trafficking and abuse in west africa there has been an overall increase in drug trafficking between latin america and europe using africa as a transit area the increase in illicit drug use in west africa has resulted in challenges related to security treatment and negative health and social consequences of that drug use according to south african law enforcement authorities drug trafficking organizations from china and the balkans have established a significant presence in southern africa in addition to importing drugs directly into southern africa drug trafficking organizations ship drugs to maputo and from there the drugs are transported by truck to south africa a fiveyear strategic framework on drug control focusing on drug abuse prevention and treatment standards as well as the establishment of national and regional drug observatories was discussed at the first meeting of the african union specialized technical committee on health population and drug control held in addis ababa in april during that meeting african ministers of health population and drug control held a meeting to discuss linkages between health and drug control