Mozambican authorities have seized 1.4 tonnes of fentanyl at Maputo International Airport, highlighting the emergence of a new synthetic drug trafficking route in Southern Africa.
The National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) announced the seizure on Thursday, August 13, 2026. The fentanyl, found in liquid form inside vials concealed among cosmetic products, had been shipped from Campinas, Brazil, via Luanda, Angola, in three consignments scheduled to arrive on August 1, 6 and 11.
A 31-year-old Mozambican man was arrested at the airport’s cargo terminal while attempting to collect the shipment. The latest seizure follows the discovery of 3.7 tonnes of fentanyl at the same airport in June 2026. Two Mexican nationals suspected of links to a trafficking network were also arrested in April, when chemical precursors were found.
Authorities are increasingly concerned about fentanyl trafficking as drug use rises in Mozambique. Government figures show that 32,281 people were hospitalized for drug addiction in 2025, representing a 38 per cent increase in one year.
The seizures have raised concerns that Mozambique could be emerging as a transit point connecting Latin America, Southern Africa and markets in Oceania, potentially establishing a new international route for synthetic drugs.