Wagner Builds $180 Million CAR Drug Empire After Prigozhin Death
Updated
Updated · i24NEWS · Jul 12
Wagner Builds $180 Million CAR Drug Empire After Prigozhin Death
2 articles · Updated · i24NEWS · Jul 12
Summary
Several hundred Wagner fighters still based along the upper Oubangui River are running a tramadol trafficking network in the Central African Republic that now bankrolls gold, timber and arms operations.
The opioid trade has tripled in price amid heavy demand, with miners using tramadol to work longer and fighters taking it in combat, helping the group regain momentum after Yevgeny Prigozhin's death.
A June 2026 Global Initiative report said Wagner-linked actors are embedded across CAR ministries, security services and customs, creating a system of criminalized governance tied to the presidency.
Wagner earns an estimated $180 million a year from illicit gold exports, while the Ndassima mine alone produces about 5 metric tons annually—worth up to $500 million on international markets.
The report said CAR has become a logistics hub for Wagner and Russia's Africa Corps in West Africa, while Wagner-linked violence and bombardment are driving civilian casualties higher.
How does Wagner's illicit gold and opioid empire in CAR fuel wider conflicts across the continent?
Is Wagner's criminal state in CAR the new template for Russian foreign policy in Africa?
Can international law stop Wagner's criminal takeover when a nation's own government is complicit?
From Wagner to Africa Corps: Russia’s Entrenchment and the Erosion of Sovereignty in the Central African Republic, 2023–2026
Overview
After Yevgeny Prigozhin’s death in August 2023, Russia’s private military operations in Africa changed significantly, but Wagner Group’s influence remained strong in the Central African Republic (CAR) by July 2026. Despite Russia’s efforts to rebrand and control these forces, Wagner mercenaries continued to run a criminal empire in CAR, fueling violence and sparking local protests. The Russian government struggled to dismantle Wagner’s networks and faced resistance from the CAR government, highlighting the ongoing tension between Moscow’s ambitions and local sovereignty. This situation led to instability, public unrest, and challenges for Russia’s long-term control in the region.