West Africa is becoming a key area for terrorist organizations to raise funds for their operations.

From Reuters:

Militants are exploiting weak law enforcement in West Africa to raise funds from rackets ranging from people smuggling to drug trafficking and even fake Viagra, experts said.

While blacklisted groups like al Qaeda and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have not attacked targets in West Africa, intelligence sources say their members and supporters are using the region to finance activities elsewhere.

Contraband products such as counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs, people smuggling, diamond smuggling, and drug trafficking are all activities that are taking place in the region.