Abuse and trafficking of heroin, cocaine rising as smugglers find new route

Use of heroin and cocaine is on the rise, Interior PS Raymond Omollo has said.

He said Ethiopia through Moyale is the new route for transporting the drugs to Nairobi, replacing the Coast route.

Omollo said the government has yet to understand why the traffickers have changed the route.

“There is an increase in the consumption of the drugs and I don’t know why Ethiopia through Moyale is the new preferred route, as opposed to the traditional Coast route. So, definitely an increased trend and we are seeing a lot of hard drugs,” he said.

“It’s a nightmare. We are trying to figure out how best to deal with it. Our anti-narcotics unit is doing their best.”

The PS did not identify the regions where drug consumption was the highest but an earlier UN report showed Kenya was a top transit route for the narcotics due to porous borders.

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime said East Africa (UNDOC) is attractive to international drug trafficking syndicates as the countries have ineffective border controls.

The region also has limited cross-border and regional cooperation as well as serious deficiencies in the criminal justice systems, resulting in spillage of the substances to Kenya, it added.

“Hence, the low seizure figures are more an indication that few resources are allocated to drug control and that international border controls are weak than a sign that no drugs are being trafficked through the region,” UNDOC said.

The revelation by the PS follows a recent conviction of serial drug trafficker Joyce Akinyi alongside Congolese national Pauline Kalala and Peres Ochieng’.

They had been arrested on July 13, 2019, at Akinyi’s Deep West bar in Nairobi West.

Anti-narcotic police officers found them in possession of 1,002 grammes of heroin worth Sh3 million.

The narcotics were concealed in a clear polythene bag wrapped in cellotape and hidden under a shoe rack.

Ochieng’ was charged with possessing 880.86 grammes of heroin worth Sh2 million concealed in her handbag.

They were also charged with possessing forged DRC passports. They are awaiting sentencing.

Omollo also said the fight against illicit brews and counterfeit alcohol is bearing fruit.

He said a multiagency team found counterfeit alcohol is prevalent in central Kenya while illicit brew as a problem in western region.

“We found that on paper, there were 60 manufacturers of alcohol but on the ground, there were only 29. We have winnowed this down to 15 and that’s why you are seeing a drop in the cases of people affected by the substances,” the PS said.

Omollo said 2,000 bars and alcohol outlets will soon be shut down because of their proximity to learning institutions and residential areas.

“We have 50,000 bars and outlets and 2,000 such entities are close to learning institutions,” he said.

The PS said there is a disjointed licensing regime between counties and the national government but this is being harmonised. Nacada is taking the lead.

On policing, Omollo said the government is progressively implementing the Maraga task force report, focusing on modernising equipment for police officers and improving their welfare.

He said the state had given police officers a salary rise of 20 per cent in a graduated manner depending on the rank, but the lower ranks received the lion share.

The PS said this was part of attaining the 40 per cent rise recommended in the report.

“The report had wanted 40 per cent. We have started with 20 per cent and we will do another 10 per cent in the next financial year and the remaining 10 per cent in the following financial year,” he said.

 Omollo said security has been tightened and Kenyans can be free in going about their activities during the festivities.

“Our people are safe and police officers will remain on duty with heightened alertness. We want the public to go about their activities and travels safely.”