The Mombasa security committee is considering setting up roadblocks at all entry points into the county to stop drugs getting in.
Mombasa deputy county commissioner Ronald Muiwawi said on Monday the county is being used by drug barons from all over the world as a destination and dumping site for drugs.
“Many times, Mombasa people are users of drugs. But most of the drugs come from outside Mombasa," he said.
“We will have to start erecting roadblocks so that when people come into Mombasa, we inspect them and their luggages to make sure they are clean to avoid disasters being brought to us.”
Muiwawi spoke at Makupa police station after seizing Sh1.75 million bhang. One of the suspects was being held at the police station.
The bhang haul, disguised as dried fish, was ferried from Siaya county to Mombasa through a courier company.
Muiwawi said the bhang haul was seized due to their close collaboration with members of the public and other stakeholders.
“We got information from members of the public that they suspect such a consignment has been picked by one of the intended targets," he said.
“Our officers then followed that target and were able to arrest him. He led the officer to where the bhang had been delivered initially.”
The seized 3,500 big rolls of bhang stashed in 35 bales, with each bale carrying 100 rolls.
“All this was targeting our youth in Mombasa. We in Mombasa are losing our youth, especially schoolgoing ones, to drugs,” Muiwawi said.
The war on drugs has been intensified in Mombasa after Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua ordered a crackdown on drug barons in the county.
Human rights activists believe the intensified war led to the killing of Yusuf Swaleh, alias Candy Rain, alias Kandereni, a man suspected by police to be among the conduits of drugs traffickers in the Coast.
Kandereni was picked up from his house in Kwa Kadzengo, Kikambala, in Kilifi county on March 8 by people who introduced themselves as police officers.
His body was found in a thicket in Kiruwitu, near Vipingo, in Kilifi, with a single gunshot wound in the head, on March 17.
By the time of his death, he had several drug-related cases pending in court.
He was buried on March 18 at Sargoi cemetery after a postmortem was conducted at Jocham hospital in Mombasa.
“Many [youth] are deep into drugs that they have had to drop out of school. It is a sad situation,” Muiwawi said.
He said they are bending over backwards to ensure they root out the vice in the subcounty.
In December last year, the Mombasa subcounty security committee, led by Muiwawi, held a meeting with transporters to increase cooperation on security matters.
“So that when such consignments are ferried they can have an idea on how to identify the same and notify security apparatus if they suspect it.
“The seizing of this cache is a result of that meeting in December. We now have a good working relation with the transporters and other stakeholders,” Muiwawi said.
He urged transporters, including bus companies, courier service operators and individual transporters, to verify the cargo they are given to avoid transporting dangerous consignments.
Muiwawi said Mombasa will no longer be a dumping site for drugs and illegal substances.
“We have dedicated ourselves to this course and we will root out drugs in Mombasa subcounty and Mombasa county as a whole,” he said.
Mombasa subcounty police commander Maxwell Agoro said they have stepped up the war on drugs and issued a stern warning to drug barons, peddlers and users.
He said police have increased vigilance in and around Mombasa and are using sophisticated equipment to identify threats and potential threats.
“We are therefore calling on the public to help us keep them safe by increasing our cooperation. When you get information, let us know. Let us work together to safeguard our future generation,” Agoro said.
He said the multi-agency team against drugs is top notch and has in place strategies to ensure Mombasa is safe.
