Remnants of "Wagner" led by Prigozhin's son created a drug empire in CAR
Through control over the trade of "cocaine for the poor," they maintain control over the country's forest and gold resources.
Pavel Prigozhin. Photo: social networks
The remnants of the Russian PMC "Wagner" have created a drug empire based on tramadol in the Central African Republic (CAR). This painkiller, which acts as a powerful stimulant in high doses, is called "cocaine for the poor." Prigozhin's son is in charge of everything, reports The Wall Street Journal.
The recommended dose of tramadol is 50-100 mg, but in CAR, tablets of 200 mg and higher are widely sold.
This painkiller is used by miners in Wagner's gold mines to work long hours. Militants take high doses before battle to suppress fear and increase aggression.
After Prigozhin's death and the absorption of most of "Wagner" by the Russian state, up to 500 fighters of the group remain in the upper reaches of the Ubangi River. Through control over the tramadol trade, they maintain control over the country's forest and gold resources — according to Global Initiative's estimates, income from illegal gold exports amounts to $180 million per year, plus additional income from drug smuggling.
The group there is now led by Pavel Prigozhin, son of Wagner's founder.
Tramadol is mainly produced in India, exported to firms in Congo (officially as regular 50 mg doses, but with a mixture of high-dose tablets). Smugglers then repackage it and transport it from Kinshasa to the border town of Zongo, and from there across the Ubangi River to CAR, where it is freely sold in Bangui stores. The price of the drug has tripled over the past year.
When resold to Cameroon, a batch worth $7,000 can bring up to $21,000, although smugglers have to pay around $4,000 in bribes to Wagner mercenaries and allied armed groups.
Last February, a pro-Wagner militia killed about 130 Fulani herders — the deadliest attack on civilians since March 2022.
Several Wagner-linked groups ("Sharks", "Black Russians") patrol Bangui, intimidating opposition supporters — including before last year's presidential elections, which President Touadéra won for the third time.
Experts note that the relative isolation and minor strategic importance of CAR allow "Wagner" to operate almost without external attention — unlike Mali or Mozambique, where there are real threats from groups linked to ISIS.
Researchers fear that "Wagner" could exacerbate chaos in the region — especially in Sudan, where the rebellious Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are strengthening their positions in the south and west of the country, not far from the CAR border, and Wagner mercenaries are already entering Darfur in coordination with the RSF.