The emergence of West Africa as a significant hub for global narcotics trafficking in the late 2000s not only brought international attention to the sub-region, but the maritime security landscape changed and has continued to experience changes ever since. The West African sub-region has for several years been immersed in the trafficking of narcotics or illegal drugs, light weapons, and human beings, among other nefarious activities. For some experts, the long and largely unprotected coastlines of the region, as well as other vulnerabilities such as weak political systems, poverty, corrupt political elites, and regionally based drug traffickers, provide persuasive explanations for these nefarious activities, especially the trafficking of illegal drugs such as cocaine. The consequences of maritime security challenges have been profound and far-reaching. Guinea Bissau's emergence as a “narco-state” in terms of narcotics trafficking deserves to be highlighted. To enhance our understanding of the factors that are responsible for maritime security challenges, the trafficking of narcotics drugs, and their impact on countries in the region, this chapter draws on relevant works (scholarly and policy) with conceptual ideas on maritime (in)security to critically examine the evolution, trends, complexities, and impact of global narcotics trafficking through West Africa with a focus on how these issues are shaping political stability, democratic governance, and development in the region.