Duale rallies Muslim elite, clerics to join fight against drugs, illicit brew

Defense Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has urged Muslim leaders to join the war against drug abuse.

He said Muslim scholars, religious leaders and businessmen have role to play to ensure drugs and substance abuse is dealt with.

“We are part and parcel of the society. We must take positions to get rid of drugs in our communities,” he said.

“We must get it right this time round as far as cleaning our society is concerned and those questioning our zeal will be up for a rude shock.”

Duale spoke at Umliqiibi Mosque in Garissa town during the closing ceremony of the Garissa County Quran Competition.

Suheid Aden Hassan, 13, emerged the overall winner. He was awarded a motor vehicle worth Sh1.5 million.

The CS urged parents to take their responsibilities seriously and mould their children well.

“As a government, we cannot build a country when generations are destroyed by drugs. We all have a role to play in ensuring that moving forward this is stopped for good,” Duale said.

Currently, a multi-agency team led by Nacada, the National Police Service and the National Government Administrative is conducting a crackdown on drugs in Northeastern.

The officers have for the past two weeks raided shops, clubs and buildings suspected to be used to peddle drugs.

The government issued various directives to eradicate illicit liquor, drugs.

Key among the directives is cancellation of second-generational manufacturing licenses and closure of alcohol outlets near schools.

Heller street, Garissa ndogo, Bula sheikh, Waberi and Iftin are areas notorious for drugs and substance abuse.

Garissa county commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo put the drug dealers on notice.

Duale praised the multi-agency team conducting the crckdown, saying the government cannot afford to lose the war on drugs.

He urged parents to enroll their children in religious institutions.

Sheikh Hassan promised congratulated Shuaib, saying he showcased his mastery of the Quran.

He promised to help in the fight against drug abuse to secure the future of the youth

On Thursday ,three people were arrested and 353 stones of bhang recovered in Mororo, Tana River county.

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

Separately on Monday last week, 11 people operating  unregistered chemists were arrested.

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.

Director of Criminal investigations Mohamed Amin 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.