As long as terrorist groups exploit illicit trade networks, the risk of their expansion into North Africa and Europe remains dangerously high. The Sahel region has become a global hotspot for terrorism, with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (ISIS) exploiting trans-Saharan smuggling networks to expand their influence. Al-Qaeda and ISIS have deeply embedded themselves within trans-Saharan smuggling networks, facilitating the movement of weapons, drugs, and militants across the region. The entrenchment of terrorist groups in smuggling networks has far-reaching implications. This growing connectivity between jihadist factions and illicit trade raises the risk of external attacks, with North Africa and Europe as primary targets.