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West Africa has become a global hub for illegal drugs transiting from both Latin America and Asia to end users in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The type of illegal substances has expanded from cocaine and heroin to amphetamine-type stimulants. West Africa is particularly susceptible to influence by transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) due to endemic corruption, minimal border security, regional geographic location, and poor resource management.

This thesis determines the impact of drug trafficking in West Africa on the national security interests of the United States. The U.S. strategy derived from the National Security Strategy, as well as the National Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime. This study reports the conditions that exist and are exploited by TCOs in an effort to conduct illegal activities and undermine the security of West African countries and the national security interests of the United States. The significance of this study is that it provides further guidance and research opportunities for scholars and government officials to continue to analyze how the United States addresses the potential of a destabilized West Africa from affecting the national security interests of the United States of America.

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION * Background * Primary Research Question * Secondary Research Questions * Assumptions * Definitions of Key Terms * Scope and Limitations * Delimitations * Significance of the Study * Organization of the Study * CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW * Introduction * Section 1: Current Drug Trafficking Trends in West Africa * Section 2: Current National Security Strategy Relating to Drug Trafficking and Transnational Crime * Section 3: Congressional Testimonies and Research Relating to West African Drug Trafficking * Section 4: Summary of Findings * CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY * Introduction * Section 1: Data Collection * Section 2: Credibility of Sources * Section 3: Data Analysis * Section 4: Summary and Conclusions * CHAPTER 4 ANALYSIS * Introduction * Section 1: Overview of Transnational Crime and Drug Trafficking Trends * Section 2: Drugs Being Trafficked through West Africa * Section 3: The U.S. National Interest Regarding TOC * Section 4: Summary of Analysis * CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS * Conclusion * Recommendations * BIBLIOGRAPHY