Three arrested with bhang as crackdown on drugs intensifies in Garissa

Three people have been arrested with 353 stones of bhang in Mororo, Tana River county.

The bhang, estimated to have a street value of Sh75,000, was netted on Tuesday.

The arrests come following an intensified crackdown on narcotics by Nacada and the Pharmacies and Poisons Board.

Bangali subcounty police commander Karani Infren said they have launched a manhunt for the main peddler.

“We have information on his whereabouts. The ongoing operation with Nacada has already given us leads,” he said.

Nacada regional manager Wangai Gachoka said they will also seize three motorbikes that were used to transport the drugs.

He warned other peddlers to stop or face the law.

The Psychotropic Substances (control) Act, 1994 provides the parameters on the control, possession, transportation, trafficking and use of narcotics.

Karani issued a stern warning to club owners operating near learning institutions.

“We are going to follow the government's directive and close clubs near learning institutions,” he said.

Separately on Monday night, 11 people operating  unregistered chemists were arrested in the ongoing operation.

Pharmacy and Poisons Board official Abdinasir Ahmed said the operation targeted those illegally selling controlled drugs.

They were arraigned and charged at the Garissa law courts yesterday.

“Our investigation has shown that the drugs were sourced from various counties and some were smuggled through the border. We will not relent in our fight to eliminate the abuse of drugs. The board will cancel licenses of those found contravening the law,” he said.

A spot check in Garissa town showed that a number of chemists remained closed.

An official from PPB said most chemists are run by quacks and are not licensed by the board.

On Wednesday, a meeting to find a solution to the drug menace was held in Garissa county.

County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo said they have the names of six key suspected drug peddlers.

Director of Criminal investigations Mohamed Amin, last week, said the  government will open an anti-narcotics office in Garissa to deal with drug trafficking in Northeastern.

He said drugs from Ethiopia have become a major concern to the country’s security agencies.

“We are trying to spread our wings across the country but specifically targeting counties where cases of drug and substance abuse are on the rise,” Amin said.