The Russian paramilitary entity Wagner, once weakened by the death of its founder Evgueni Prigojine in 2023, has found a new lifeline in the landlocked Central African Republic. Through a sophisticated drug trafficking network centered on tramadol, the group has rebuilt its influence and financial muscle in a country where governance remains fragile.

Originally prescribed for mild to moderate pain, tramadol has been repackaged and concentrated into a potent opioid, often dubbed the “poor man’s cocaine”. Its high stimulant effects have made it a sought-after substance across the region, fueling a lucrative black market that Wagner now controls with precision.

A strategic stronghold amid weak oversight

The Central African Republic offers Wagner the ideal environment to operate. With limited scrutiny from Western governments, the country is rich in mineral and forestry resources—gold, diamonds, uranium, and vast timberlands—providing both cover and revenue streams. Wagner’s presence in the gold mining sector alone is estimated to generate nearly $180 million annually in illicit profits, according to research by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.

Beyond mining, the group has embedded itself into the state apparatus, exerting control over key institutions and security forces. Its influence extends to the elite presidential guard and the ‘Requins’ militia, a youth group that conducts armed patrols around Bangui and targets opposition figures, pro-Western activists, and peaceful demonstrators.

Tramadol arrives by river from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, then flows through a network of street vendors and makeshift shops across the country. Wagner oversees its distribution, even exporting the drug to neighboring nations at inflated prices. The group also distributes it to combatants involved in counterinsurgency operations, with fighters reportedly using it to “boost their courage in battle.”

Security analysts warn that Wagner’s operations in the Central African Republic may serve as a launching pad for expansion into neighboring Sudan. Close ties between Wagner and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have raised concerns about a potential spillover of drug networks and paramilitary influence into regions already gripped by conflict.