Drug market risk environment and navigational strategies of street-level dealers in Nigeria

Background

Researchers have investigated drug market risks and navigational strategies of drug dealers in western societies. Less is known about this phenomenon in Africa. This study explores drug market risk environment and navigational strategies of street drug dealers in Nigeria.

Methods

The study uses qualitative data from in-depth interviews with street-level dealers (n = 31) recruited through snowball sampling in Uyo, Nigeria. Thematic analysis of transcripts generated three major themes (‘policing,’ ‘rivalry’ and ‘indiscretion’) as risk factors for police harassment, arrest and violence.

Results

Accounts identified policing, rivalry between drug dealers and indiscretion (e.g., exchanging drugs for potentially stolen items) as risk factors for police harassments, arrest and violence. Drug dealers navigate risks in different ways, including through bribing police officers, using police proxies in partisan negotiation of drug market conflicts, and non-exchange of drugs for potentially stolen items.

Conclusion

The findings underscore an ecological view of drug market risks where factors operating at different levels interact to shape risks, with policing featuring as an overarching macro-level risk factor. The failure of law enforcement to absolutely deter drug selling due to dealer’s navigational strategies such as informal privatization of police, indicates a need for alternative approaches to controlling street-level drug markets.