The United States Africa Command has raised the alarm over a sharp increase in illegal narcotics trafficking across Africa, saying the volume of illicit drug movement on the continent has grown more than sixfold in the past two years.AFRICOM’s Director of Logistics, Brig Gen Paul Filcek, disclosed this on Wednesday during a virtual media briefing from the 2026 Africa Logistics and Communications Symposium in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Filcek said the surge in drug trafficking, alongside other transnational crimes, underscored the need for stronger cooperation among African countries and their international partners.He said, “Across the African continent we face growing and converging threats on our mutual security, safety, and prosperity, including human trafficking and a dramatic rise in illegal narcotics trafficking, now more than six times what it was just two years ago.”According to him, combating the growing threats requires effective coordination, reliable communications and improved logistics capabilities to enable the rapid movement of personnel, equipment and supplies across vast and often difficult terrain.“Meeting and defeating these grave threats requires cooperation, coordination, effective and reliable communications, and the ability to rapidly move people, equipment, and supplies to points of need, often over great distances and challenging conditions,” he added.Filcek said the symposium, jointly hosted by AFRICOM and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Defence, brought together delegates from 40 African partner nations and 27 private companies, describing both figures as record participation for an AFRICOM functional event.He said logistics and communications had become inseparable in modern security operations, noting that military capability depended on both systems working together.Related NewsYou’ve made a turning point on kidnapping in Nigeria, Olubadan lauds Tinubu80 arrested over xenophobic attacks – S’Africa envoyAfrica needs independent fuel pricing benchmark, says NMDPRA“Logistics and communications are the decisive edge because they set the limits of our operational capabilities,” he said.The general explained that the conference was deliberately designed to combine logistics and communications discussions for the first time because neither could function effectively without the other.“It is important to note that a central theme of this event is the powerful intersection of security and commercial investment.“Security enabled by investments creates stability, which attracts even greater investments and drives toward prosperity. When our partners succeed, we succeed,” Filcek said.He also highlighted the rapid emergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence, networked drones and expanding satellite systems, saying they were transforming defence operations and would require African countries to strengthen regional cooperation and interoperability.“Our job is to experiment, adapt, test, learn, and move quickly to bring logistics and communications technologies and sustainment programmes that actually work in African conditions,” he said.Filcek added that the symposium was intended to strengthen partnerships, encourage the sharing of security challenges, and develop joint solutions to improve Africa’s defence logistics and communications systems.“AI can transform African logistics through route optimisation, through predictive fleet maintenance, demand forecasting, faster customs and border processing, all critical for a continent whose competitiveness depends on the cost and reliability of moving goods, and for knitting together the AfCFTA single market,” he said. AFRICOM’s Director of Logistics, Brig Gen Paul Filcek, disclosed this on Wednesday during a virtual media briefing from the 2026 Africa Logistics and Communications Symposium in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Filcek said the surge in drug trafficking, alongside other transnational crimes, underscored the need for stronger cooperation among African countries and their international partners.He said, “Across the African continent we face growing and converging threats on our mutual security, safety, and prosperity, including human trafficking and a dramatic rise in illegal narcotics trafficking, now more than six times what it was just two years ago.”According to him, combating the growing threats requires effective coordination, reliable communications and improved logistics capabilities to enable the rapid movement of personnel, equipment and supplies across vast and often difficult terrain.“Meeting and defeating these grave threats requires cooperation, coordination, effective and reliable communications, and the ability to rapidly move people, equipment, and supplies to points of need, often over great distances and challenging conditions,” he added.Filcek said the symposium, jointly hosted by AFRICOM and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Defence, brought together delegates from 40 African partner nations and 27 private companies, describing both figures as record participation for an AFRICOM functional event.He said logistics and communications had become inseparable in modern security operations, noting that military capability depended on both systems working together.Related NewsYou’ve made a turning point on kidnapping in Nigeria, Olubadan lauds Tinubu80 arrested over xenophobic attacks – S’Africa envoyAfrica needs independent fuel pricing benchmark, says NMDPRA“Logistics and communications are the decisive edge because they set the limits of our operational capabilities,” he said.The general explained that the conference was deliberately designed to combine logistics and communications discussions for the first time because neither could function effectively without the other.“It is important to note that a central theme of this event is the powerful intersection of security and commercial investment.“Security enabled by investments creates stability, which attracts even greater investments and drives toward prosperity. When our partners succeed, we succeed,” Filcek said.He also highlighted the rapid emergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence, networked drones and expanding satellite systems, saying they were transforming defence operations and would require African countries to strengthen regional cooperation and interoperability.“Our job is to experiment, adapt, test, learn, and move quickly to bring logistics and communications technologies and sustainment programmes that actually work in African conditions,” he said.Filcek added that the symposium was intended to strengthen partnerships, encourage the sharing of security challenges, and develop joint solutions to improve Africa’s defence logistics and communications systems.“AI can transform African logistics through route optimisation, through predictive fleet maintenance, demand forecasting, faster customs and border processing, all critical for a continent whose competitiveness depends on the cost and reliability of moving goods, and for knitting together the AfCFTA single market,” he said. Filcek said the surge in drug trafficking, alongside other transnational crimes, underscored the need for stronger cooperation among African countries and their international partners.He said, “Across the African continent we face growing and converging threats on our mutual security, safety, and prosperity, including human trafficking and a dramatic rise in illegal narcotics trafficking, now more than six times what it was just two years ago.”According to him, combating the growing threats requires effective coordination, reliable communications and improved logistics capabilities to enable the rapid movement of personnel, equipment and supplies across vast and often difficult terrain.“Meeting and defeating these grave threats requires cooperation, coordination, effective and reliable communications, and the ability to rapidly move people, equipment, and supplies to points of need, often over great distances and challenging conditions,” he added.Filcek said the symposium, jointly hosted by AFRICOM and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Defence, brought together delegates from 40 African partner nations and 27 private companies, describing both figures as record participation for an AFRICOM functional event.He said logistics and communications had become inseparable in modern security operations, noting that military capability depended on both systems working together.Related NewsYou’ve made a turning point on kidnapping in Nigeria, Olubadan lauds Tinubu80 arrested over xenophobic attacks – S’Africa envoyAfrica needs independent fuel pricing benchmark, says NMDPRA“Logistics and communications are the decisive edge because they set the limits of our operational capabilities,” he said.The general explained that the conference was deliberately designed to combine logistics and communications discussions for the first time because neither could function effectively without the other.“It is important to note that a central theme of this event is the powerful intersection of security and commercial investment.“Security enabled by investments creates stability, which attracts even greater investments and drives toward prosperity. When our partners succeed, we succeed,” Filcek said.He also highlighted the rapid emergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence, networked drones and expanding satellite systems, saying they were transforming defence operations and would require African countries to strengthen regional cooperation and interoperability.“Our job is to experiment, adapt, test, learn, and move quickly to bring logistics and communications technologies and sustainment programmes that actually work in African conditions,” he said.Filcek added that the symposium was intended to strengthen partnerships, encourage the sharing of security challenges, and develop joint solutions to improve Africa’s defence logistics and communications systems.“AI can transform African logistics through route optimisation, through predictive fleet maintenance, demand forecasting, faster customs and border processing, all critical for a continent whose competitiveness depends on the cost and reliability of moving goods, and for knitting together the AfCFTA single market,” he said. He said, “Across the African continent we face growing and converging threats on our mutual security, safety, and prosperity, including human trafficking and a dramatic rise in illegal narcotics trafficking, now more than six times what it was just two years ago.”According to him, combating the growing threats requires effective coordination, reliable communications and improved logistics capabilities to enable the rapid movement of personnel, equipment and supplies across vast and often difficult terrain.“Meeting and defeating these grave threats requires cooperation, coordination, effective and reliable communications, and the ability to rapidly move people, equipment, and supplies to points of need, often over great distances and challenging conditions,” he added.Filcek said the symposium, jointly hosted by AFRICOM and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Defence, brought together delegates from 40 African partner nations and 27 private companies, describing both figures as record participation for an AFRICOM functional event.He said logistics and communications had become inseparable in modern security operations, noting that military capability depended on both systems working together.Related NewsYou’ve made a turning point on kidnapping in Nigeria, Olubadan lauds Tinubu80 arrested over xenophobic attacks – S’Africa envoyAfrica needs independent fuel pricing benchmark, says NMDPRA“Logistics and communications are the decisive edge because they set the limits of our operational capabilities,” he said.The general explained that the conference was deliberately designed to combine logistics and communications discussions for the first time because neither could function effectively without the other.“It is important to note that a central theme of this event is the powerful intersection of security and commercial investment.“Security enabled by investments creates stability, which attracts even greater investments and drives toward prosperity. When our partners succeed, we succeed,” Filcek said.He also highlighted the rapid emergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence, networked drones and expanding satellite systems, saying they were transforming defence operations and would require African countries to strengthen regional cooperation and interoperability.“Our job is to experiment, adapt, test, learn, and move quickly to bring logistics and communications technologies and sustainment programmes that actually work in African conditions,” he said.Filcek added that the symposium was intended to strengthen partnerships, encourage the sharing of security challenges, and develop joint solutions to improve Africa’s defence logistics and communications systems.“AI can transform African logistics through route optimisation, through predictive fleet maintenance, demand forecasting, faster customs and border processing, all critical for a continent whose competitiveness depends on the cost and reliability of moving goods, and for knitting together the AfCFTA single market,” he said. According to him, combating the growing threats requires effective coordination, reliable communications and improved logistics capabilities to enable the rapid movement of personnel, equipment and supplies across vast and often difficult terrain.“Meeting and defeating these grave threats requires cooperation, coordination, effective and reliable communications, and the ability to rapidly move people, equipment, and supplies to points of need, often over great distances and challenging conditions,” he added.Filcek said the symposium, jointly hosted by AFRICOM and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Defence, brought together delegates from 40 African partner nations and 27 private companies, describing both figures as record participation for an AFRICOM functional event.He said logistics and communications had become inseparable in modern security operations, noting that military capability depended on both systems working together.Related NewsYou’ve made a turning point on kidnapping in Nigeria, Olubadan lauds Tinubu80 arrested over xenophobic attacks – S’Africa envoyAfrica needs independent fuel pricing benchmark, says NMDPRA“Logistics and communications are the decisive edge because they set the limits of our operational capabilities,” he said.The general explained that the conference was deliberately designed to combine logistics and communications discussions for the first time because neither could function effectively without the other.“It is important to note that a central theme of this event is the powerful intersection of security and commercial investment.“Security enabled by investments creates stability, which attracts even greater investments and drives toward prosperity. When our partners succeed, we succeed,” Filcek said.He also highlighted the rapid emergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence, networked drones and expanding satellite systems, saying they were transforming defence operations and would require African countries to strengthen regional cooperation and interoperability.“Our job is to experiment, adapt, test, learn, and move quickly to bring logistics and communications technologies and sustainment programmes that actually work in African conditions,” he said.Filcek added that the symposium was intended to strengthen partnerships, encourage the sharing of security challenges, and develop joint solutions to improve Africa’s defence logistics and communications systems.“AI can transform African logistics through route optimisation, through predictive fleet maintenance, demand forecasting, faster customs and border processing, all critical for a continent whose competitiveness depends on the cost and reliability of moving goods, and for knitting together the AfCFTA single market,” he said. “Meeting and defeating these grave threats requires cooperation, coordination, effective and reliable communications, and the ability to rapidly move people, equipment, and supplies to points of need, often over great distances and challenging conditions,” he added.Filcek said the symposium, jointly hosted by AFRICOM and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Defence, brought together delegates from 40 African partner nations and 27 private companies, describing both figures as record participation for an AFRICOM functional event.He said logistics and communications had become inseparable in modern security operations, noting that military capability depended on both systems working together.Related NewsYou’ve made a turning point on kidnapping in Nigeria, Olubadan lauds Tinubu80 arrested over xenophobic attacks – S’Africa envoyAfrica needs independent fuel pricing benchmark, says NMDPRA“Logistics and communications are the decisive edge because they set the limits of our operational capabilities,” he said.The general explained that the conference was deliberately designed to combine logistics and communications discussions for the first time because neither could function effectively without the other.“It is important to note that a central theme of this event is the powerful intersection of security and commercial investment.“Security enabled by investments creates stability, which attracts even greater investments and drives toward prosperity. When our partners succeed, we succeed,” Filcek said.He also highlighted the rapid emergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence, networked drones and expanding satellite systems, saying they were transforming defence operations and would require African countries to strengthen regional cooperation and interoperability.“Our job is to experiment, adapt, test, learn, and move quickly to bring logistics and communications technologies and sustainment programmes that actually work in African conditions,” he said.Filcek added that the symposium was intended to strengthen partnerships, encourage the sharing of security challenges, and develop joint solutions to improve Africa’s defence logistics and communications systems.“AI can transform African logistics through route optimisation, through predictive fleet maintenance, demand forecasting, faster customs and border processing, all critical for a continent whose competitiveness depends on the cost and reliability of moving goods, and for knitting together the AfCFTA single market,” he said. Filcek said the symposium, jointly hosted by AFRICOM and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Defence, brought together delegates from 40 African partner nations and 27 private companies, describing both figures as record participation for an AFRICOM functional event.He said logistics and communications had become inseparable in modern security operations, noting that military capability depended on both systems working together.Related NewsYou’ve made a turning point on kidnapping in Nigeria, Olubadan lauds Tinubu80 arrested over xenophobic attacks – S’Africa envoyAfrica needs independent fuel pricing benchmark, says NMDPRA“Logistics and communications are the decisive edge because they set the limits of our operational capabilities,” he said.The general explained that the conference was deliberately designed to combine logistics and communications discussions for the first time because neither could function effectively without the other.“It is important to note that a central theme of this event is the powerful intersection of security and commercial investment.“Security enabled by investments creates stability, which attracts even greater investments and drives toward prosperity. When our partners succeed, we succeed,” Filcek said.He also highlighted the rapid emergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence, networked drones and expanding satellite systems, saying they were transforming defence operations and would require African countries to strengthen regional cooperation and interoperability.“Our job is to experiment, adapt, test, learn, and move quickly to bring logistics and communications technologies and sustainment programmes that actually work in African conditions,” he said.Filcek added that the symposium was intended to strengthen partnerships, encourage the sharing of security challenges, and develop joint solutions to improve Africa’s defence logistics and communications systems.“AI can transform African logistics through route optimisation, through predictive fleet maintenance, demand forecasting, faster customs and border processing, all critical for a continent whose competitiveness depends on the cost and reliability of moving goods, and for knitting together the AfCFTA single market,” he said. He said logistics and communications had become inseparable in modern security operations, noting that military capability depended on both systems working together.Related NewsYou’ve made a turning point on kidnapping in Nigeria, Olubadan lauds Tinubu80 arrested over xenophobic attacks – S’Africa envoyAfrica needs independent fuel pricing benchmark, says NMDPRA“Logistics and communications are the decisive edge because they set the limits of our operational capabilities,” he said.The general explained that the conference was deliberately designed to combine logistics and communications discussions for the first time because neither could function effectively without the other.“It is important to note that a central theme of this event is the powerful intersection of security and commercial investment.“Security enabled by investments creates stability, which attracts even greater investments and drives toward prosperity. When our partners succeed, we succeed,” Filcek said.He also highlighted the rapid emergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence, networked drones and expanding satellite systems, saying they were transforming defence operations and would require African countries to strengthen regional cooperation and interoperability.“Our job is to experiment, adapt, test, learn, and move quickly to bring logistics and communications technologies and sustainment programmes that actually work in African conditions,” he said.Filcek added that the symposium was intended to strengthen partnerships, encourage the sharing of security challenges, and develop joint solutions to improve Africa’s defence logistics and communications systems.“AI can transform African logistics through route optimisation, through predictive fleet maintenance, demand forecasting, faster customs and border processing, all critical for a continent whose competitiveness depends on the cost and reliability of moving goods, and for knitting together the AfCFTA single market,” he said. “Logistics and communications are the decisive edge because they set the limits of our operational capabilities,” he said.The general explained that the conference was deliberately designed to combine logistics and communications discussions for the first time because neither could function effectively without the other.“It is important to note that a central theme of this event is the powerful intersection of security and commercial investment.“Security enabled by investments creates stability, which attracts even greater investments and drives toward prosperity. When our partners succeed, we succeed,” Filcek said.He also highlighted the rapid emergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence, networked drones and expanding satellite systems, saying they were transforming defence operations and would require African countries to strengthen regional cooperation and interoperability.“Our job is to experiment, adapt, test, learn, and move quickly to bring logistics and communications technologies and sustainment programmes that actually work in African conditions,” he said.Filcek added that the symposium was intended to strengthen partnerships, encourage the sharing of security challenges, and develop joint solutions to improve Africa’s defence logistics and communications systems.“AI can transform African logistics through route optimisation, through predictive fleet maintenance, demand forecasting, faster customs and border processing, all critical for a continent whose competitiveness depends on the cost and reliability of moving goods, and for knitting together the AfCFTA single market,” he said. The general explained that the conference was deliberately designed to combine logistics and communications discussions for the first time because neither could function effectively without the other.“It is important to note that a central theme of this event is the powerful intersection of security and commercial investment.“Security enabled by investments creates stability, which attracts even greater investments and drives toward prosperity. When our partners succeed, we succeed,” Filcek said.He also highlighted the rapid emergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence, networked drones and expanding satellite systems, saying they were transforming defence operations and would require African countries to strengthen regional cooperation and interoperability.“Our job is to experiment, adapt, test, learn, and move quickly to bring logistics and communications technologies and sustainment programmes that actually work in African conditions,” he said.Filcek added that the symposium was intended to strengthen partnerships, encourage the sharing of security challenges, and develop joint solutions to improve Africa’s defence logistics and communications systems.“AI can transform African logistics through route optimisation, through predictive fleet maintenance, demand forecasting, faster customs and border processing, all critical for a continent whose competitiveness depends on the cost and reliability of moving goods, and for knitting together the AfCFTA single market,” he said. “It is important to note that a central theme of this event is the powerful intersection of security and commercial investment.“Security enabled by investments creates stability, which attracts even greater investments and drives toward prosperity. When our partners succeed, we succeed,” Filcek said.He also highlighted the rapid emergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence, networked drones and expanding satellite systems, saying they were transforming defence operations and would require African countries to strengthen regional cooperation and interoperability.“Our job is to experiment, adapt, test, learn, and move quickly to bring logistics and communications technologies and sustainment programmes that actually work in African conditions,” he said.Filcek added that the symposium was intended to strengthen partnerships, encourage the sharing of security challenges, and develop joint solutions to improve Africa’s defence logistics and communications systems.“AI can transform African logistics through route optimisation, through predictive fleet maintenance, demand forecasting, faster customs and border processing, all critical for a continent whose competitiveness depends on the cost and reliability of moving goods, and for knitting together the AfCFTA single market,” he said. “Security enabled by investments creates stability, which attracts even greater investments and drives toward prosperity. When our partners succeed, we succeed,” Filcek said.He also highlighted the rapid emergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence, networked drones and expanding satellite systems, saying they were transforming defence operations and would require African countries to strengthen regional cooperation and interoperability.“Our job is to experiment, adapt, test, learn, and move quickly to bring logistics and communications technologies and sustainment programmes that actually work in African conditions,” he said.Filcek added that the symposium was intended to strengthen partnerships, encourage the sharing of security challenges, and develop joint solutions to improve Africa’s defence logistics and communications systems.“AI can transform African logistics through route optimisation, through predictive fleet maintenance, demand forecasting, faster customs and border processing, all critical for a continent whose competitiveness depends on the cost and reliability of moving goods, and for knitting together the AfCFTA single market,” he said. He also highlighted the rapid emergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence, networked drones and expanding satellite systems, saying they were transforming defence operations and would require African countries to strengthen regional cooperation and interoperability.“Our job is to experiment, adapt, test, learn, and move quickly to bring logistics and communications technologies and sustainment programmes that actually work in African conditions,” he said.Filcek added that the symposium was intended to strengthen partnerships, encourage the sharing of security challenges, and develop joint solutions to improve Africa’s defence logistics and communications systems.“AI can transform African logistics through route optimisation, through predictive fleet maintenance, demand forecasting, faster customs and border processing, all critical for a continent whose competitiveness depends on the cost and reliability of moving goods, and for knitting together the AfCFTA single market,” he said. “Our job is to experiment, adapt, test, learn, and move quickly to bring logistics and communications technologies and sustainment programmes that actually work in African conditions,” he said.Filcek added that the symposium was intended to strengthen partnerships, encourage the sharing of security challenges, and develop joint solutions to improve Africa’s defence logistics and communications systems.“AI can transform African logistics through route optimisation, through predictive fleet maintenance, demand forecasting, faster customs and border processing, all critical for a continent whose competitiveness depends on the cost and reliability of moving goods, and for knitting together the AfCFTA single market,” he said. Filcek added that the symposium was intended to strengthen partnerships, encourage the sharing of security challenges, and develop joint solutions to improve Africa’s defence logistics and communications systems.“AI can transform African logistics through route optimisation, through predictive fleet maintenance, demand forecasting, faster customs and border processing, all critical for a continent whose competitiveness depends on the cost and reliability of moving goods, and for knitting together the AfCFTA single market,” he said. “AI can transform African logistics through route optimisation, through predictive fleet maintenance, demand forecasting, faster customs and border processing, all critical for a continent whose competitiveness depends on the cost and reliability of moving goods, and for knitting together the AfCFTA single market,” he said.