Nairobi — The drug problem in Mombasa and other towns at the Coast has seemingly become an insurmountable problem for law enforcers.

Indeed, the long coastline has become a major attraction for drug smugglers, either because it is difficult to police, or because the smugglers have compromised law enforcers to look the other way.

As a result, major towns in the province have turned into conduits for both hard and soft drugs destined for other countries especially in southern Africa.

It is now time the government took a long and hard look at the situation with a view to dealing with it decisively. This can be done in three ways.

The first one is for the local people to do what President Kibaki advised during his Christmas party address, and fight the menace collectively. This means that parents, the clergy and community leaders must seek ways to co-operate with the police.

The second is for area politicians to get down to earth, forget lofty ideas about secession, and seek ways to save their voters, especially the young, by persuading them that drug usage is a one-way path towards self-destruction.

The third is for the law enforcers to identify the sources of these drugs, and intercept them at sea before they are distributed to the increasing number of heroin, cocaine and mandrax addicts in the area. This will, of course, necessitate more patrols at sea and higher vigilance among the police.