Suspected peddler shot dead as police step up Coast drugs war

A suspected drug peddler was shot dead and 23 others arrested as the war on narcotics got under way at the Coast on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old man, who was with other suspected peddlers, was gunned down when they reportedly attempted to attack security officers who had raided their den near Kongowea market at 10am.

Kisauni OCPD Richard Ngatia said the men tried to attack the police using knives.

“When the officer raided the drug den, the bunch of boys armed with knives and other crude weapons tried to attack the police officers and that is when one of them was shot down,” said Mr Ngatia.

He said police officers impounded 30 rolls of bhang in the raid.

“Police have a right to defend themselves, no one should try to harm an officer, police are there to help people. We are fighting drugs for the betterment of our country,” he said.

The body was taken to Coast General Hospital mortuary.

In Mombasa’s Old Town, 76 suspected drug suppliers and users have been arrested.

“This is a war that will not end now, we have been fighting it and we will continue with it, we will flush out all the barons,” said Central Police Station OCPD Martin Otieno.

Most notorious drug dens in Mombasa such as Magwende, Crazy Boys, Kisimani and D&G were on Wednesday deserted.

According to a security official who sought anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to journalists, hundreds of drug peddlers and users have moved elsewhere.

“Although some of the residents are helping in providing information, we are still facing a challenge of not knowing the whereabouts of a majority of the peddlers since many of them are on the run,” said the source.

On Tuesday, President Kenyatta urged Old Town residents to lead the way in flushing out drug peddlers and dealers.

'MUST SUCCEED'

In Kwale County, at least 23 drug peddlers and users have been arrested as the war against drug abuse in the region entered the second day on Wednesday.

This was after Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery launched the war on drugs at Matuga School of Government on Monday.

Addressing journalists in his office, area OCPD Patrick Oduma said the arrests were made in Lungalunga, Msambweni and Matuga sub counties.

He said the 23 were caught with heroin and bhang.

“The crackdown is still on and so far we have arrested 23 people from Lungalunga, Shimoni, Msambweni, Diani, Manganyakulo and Ng’ombeni,” he said.

He went on: “This war has just started and we must succeed no matter what it takes. Now that we have arrested these people we know that we are so close to the barons.”

The police boss asked locals to provide security agencies with information regarding the drug cartels.

MEETING ON DRUGS

Meanwhile, the National Authority for Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) has said it is strategising on how to effectively implement President Kenyatta’s directive on fighting narcotics at the Coast.

Nacada chairman John Mututho on Wednesday chaired a closed-door meeting on drugs war at the Mombasa County headquarters ahead of a multi-agency forum in the region on Thursday.

Nacada chief executive William Okedi said six Coast governors are expected to attend the meeting which seeks to look at the best approaches in fighting drugs.

Besides the elected leaders, Kenya Revenue Authority officials, county commissioners as well as police chiefs from Tana River, Mombasa, Taita-Taveta, Lamu, Kwale and Kilifi are expected to attend the meeting.

At the same time, Lamu Governor Issa Timamy has called for stiffer penalties against individuals found peddling drugs in the county.

In an interview with the Nation on Wednesday, Mr Timamy suggested that suspected drug barons and peddlers be detained until their cases are determined.

“We want to have a drugs-free Lamu. When such individuals are released they carry on from where they left. Anyone who tries to bail them out should also be arrested,” said Mr Timamy.

The governor said the county government was in the process of forming a special vigilante group tasked with hunting down and arresting drug peddlers, barons and users in the region.

He cited drug use as the biggest contributor to crime and conflict among communities in the region.

“Lamu East Sub County has become a narcotics haven in Lamu. Youth have become incapacitated and unable to fend for themselves after becoming addicts,” he said.

Reported by Mohamed Ahmed, Farouk Mwabege, Laban Robert and Kalume Kazungu