Any narcotics seized in West Africa is a blow to the illegal drug industry. Now, Gambian police are reporting that with help from Britain’s Serious Organized Crime Agency, they were able to conduct one of the largest narcotics busts in the history of west Africa. According to an FT report, the bust uncovered $1.5 billion worth of cocaine.

Officials discovered the drugs in an underground bunker in a fishing warehouse. Just outside of Banjul, Gambia’s capital, the warehouse was full of 2.1 ton cocaine bricks. Loaded weapons and $253,100 worth of case were also discovered.

This latest find proves that sophisticated drug gangs are not only operating in West Africa, they are also thriving there amid international efforts to block the activities. Officials from around the world continue to aim to block drug traffic in this region, yet West Africa continues to remain a transit hub for South American narcotics.

According to West Africa head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Alexandre Schmidt, international help for local security forces has basically annoyed the drug gangs. The region continues to be an important smuggling location for cocaine, especially once other routes in Europe were eliminated.

Latin American cartels continue to control these drug gangs, which had adapted and are processing more of the raw narcotics within the region. As a result, they are better able to switch routes, buy aircraft and use West Africa’s booming financial and construction sectors in which to launder drug money.

The problem has gotten so bad that even politicians or their families are getting involved. In fact, last year, the son of Landana Conte – the late dictator – confessed to his own part in a cocaine trafficking ring, His confession was broadcast on national television. Now, illegal cargos flow across borders and moves easily into areas where there aren’t enough law enforcement agents to make a dent.