Scare for parents as the youth turn to new deadly drugs

What you need to know:

  • That time, 1,894kg of Ephedrine Hydrocloride and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochlorine had been stolen from pharmaceutical companies. The report says the drug trafficking and abuse problem is not likely to go away soon.
  • Also cited as a threat to security is the increased radicalisation of Kenyan youth by Muslim extremists in mosques and madrassas in Mombasa, Nairobi, North Eastern and Upper Eastern.
  • While the trafficking of conventional hard drugs like cocaine and heroin has traditionally been a headache for the authorities, the Intelligence Service points at the synthetic range as worrying because of the increased use.

Forget cocaine, bhang and heroin. More Kenyans are turning to the so-called designer drugs in a shocking wave of drug addiction afflicting mostly the youth and urban affluent.

A new report by the national spy agency says synthetic drugs like Mandrax are wreaking havoc in many families. The problem is fuelled by the ease with which people access cocaine, heroin, bhang and methamphetamine, warns the National Intelligence Service in its first annual report to Parliament.

While the trafficking of conventional hard drugs like cocaine and heroin has traditionally been a headache for the authorities, the Intelligence Service points at the synthetic range as worrying because of the increased use.

“A trend emerged where precursor chemicals were being stolen and exported to South Africa for processing into methamphetamine and Mandrax,” the annual report for 2013 submitted to the National Assembly says.

The Intelligence Service notes that it issued warnings, which led to the arrest of 56 suspected drug traffickers, both local and foreign, and the recovery of local and foreign currencies.

“The advice also facilitated disruption of two methamphetamine manufacturing laboratories and deportation of 30 foreigners, who were associated with them,” the report states.

In 2011, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board outlawed the use of Ephedrine Hydrochloride as ingredients in the manufacture of cough syrups and nose drops, after pharmaceutical companies reported thefts.

The substances are also used to manufacture methamphetamine, a powerful stimulant.

“Despite measures to dismantle the drug cartels, the problem is likely to persist owing to various problems, which include corruption and lack of capacity to monitor the use of precursor chemicals by licensed pharmaceutical companies.”

NOT LIKELY TO GO AWAY SOON

That time, 1,894kg of Ephedrine Hydrocloride and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochlorine had been stolen from pharmaceutical companies. The report says the drug trafficking and abuse problem is not likely to go away soon.

The NIS report further paints a grim picture of the security situation across the country, with cattle rustling, inter-ethnic clashes, criminal gangs and terrorists presenting a major headache.

Mungiki is reported to have embarked on increased recruitment, oathing and attacks on businesses which failed to pay extortion fees.

NIS said the group is expected to continue with its extortionist activities fuelled by unemployment among its membership and the determination of its leadership to remain relevant to its followers.

This suggests that despite the conversion of its former leader, Mr Maina Njenga, to the Christian faith, Mungiki remains alive and well despite the lack of an obvious presence.

Also cited as a threat to security is the increased radicalisation of Kenyan youth by Muslim extremists in mosques and madrassas in Mombasa, Nairobi, North Eastern and Upper Eastern.

“This was manifested in the violent takeover of mosques from moderate Sheikhs in the Coast region and intensified jihadist teachings in mosques and schools,” the agency says.

In addition, the agency notes Al-Shabaab’s intelligence wing, the Amniyat, continued to infiltrate the country while establishing a number of cells for recruitment.