Kenya: Traffickers Take Advantage of Security Lapse to Ship Drugs
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The Nation (Nairobi)
22 March 2008
Posted to the web 21 March 2008
Patrick Mayoyo
Nairobi
Two global watchdogs have raised concern over a new wave of drug trafficking and money laundering in Kenya.
The US State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and the International Narcotics Control agency report raises queries about Kenya's ability and commitment to the fight against drug-trafficking and money-laundering.
According to two reports released by the watchdogs recently, drug barons have been covering their illegal activities in Kenya by paying off law enforcement and other Government officials as well as politicians.
The International Narcotics Control Strategy report released early this month says international drug traffickers are increasingly using Kenya as a transit point for their illegal cargo.
According to the report, drug lords could be laundering about Sh7 billion or $100 million annually through Kenya.
Another report released by the UN International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) says that apart from the country being a transit point for drugs it was also being used as a trans-shipment centre for chemicals used in the manufacture of hard drugs.
The INCB report released mid-this month says Kenya is being turned into a major trans-shipment point for various drugs including cocaine, cannabis and heroin.
It is also used for trans-shipment of precursors, particularly ephedrine and pseudoephedrine used in the manufacture of various hard drugs.
The drug problem in the country is also aptly captured in the Kenya Police Crime Report and Data for 2007 released this month which shows that 5,401 cases involving hard drugs were reported last.
According to the police report, cases involving dangerous drugs reduced by seven per cent compared to the previous year. In 2006, 5,821 cases of dangerous drugs were reported.
Interviews with anti-narcotics personnel involved in the war against drug-trafficking paint a grim picture about the local security agencies' efforts to contain trans-national narcotics trade.
It is also feared that the political campaigns leading to last December's elections - whose results sparked unprecedented violence - may have created the perfect conditions for movement of hard drugs especially through the Mombasa port.
This was because the country's attention was focused on the chaos and the international community's mediation efforts.
A new drug baron with immense international and local connections is said to have emerged at the Coast.
Those who know him say he is the most feared tycoon in town and no security officer can dare touch him because of his connections.
He is said to move around in tinted vehicles and a private security detail which ensures that not even traffic police officers can stop him for checks.
According to sources, he is the link man of a wanted drug baron based in United Arab Emirates.
The man is referred to in security circles as Escobar in reference to the late Colombian drug baron Pablo Escobar.
Security agents say the flamboyant tycoon often facilitates the transfer of huge volumes of drugs from Africa, Asia, Middle East, and South America into Europe and North America through Mombasa and the Moi International Airport.
However, the Coast Provincial Criminal Investigations Officer Bernard Mate has refuted reports indicating that Kenya and especially the Coast, had been turned into a drug haven by international cartels.
"Those claiming that Kenya is a centre for money laundering and drug-trafficking should provide evidence to back up their claims," he said.
Mr Mate also refuted reports that a new drug kingpin had emerged after the death of the self-styled drug dealer Ibrahim Abdalla Akasha.
"Since the death of Akasha we have no any other known international drug baron in Coast region and all we have been dealing with are small time peddlers," he said.
Mr Mate however, said police had intensified campaigns against drug abuse and peddling and their focus was on suspects involved in trans-border drug trade.
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The PCIO said investigations had shown most of the drugs finding their way into the country and especially bhang or cannabis was imported from neighbouring countries.
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