Entebbe Airport aviation commandant Beata Chelimo, displays narcotics pallets that were reportedly recovered from suspects at the airport. FILE PHOTO
Law enforcers are allegedly selling narcotic drugs confiscated from traffickers to make money and turn to replenish the stock with bogus substances, it emerged yesterday.
Law enforcers are allegedly selling narcotic drugs confiscated from traffickers to make money and turn to replenish the stock with bogus substances, it emerged yesterday.
The revelation, which police denied, surfaced just as the Force prepares this afternoon to torch between 25-36 kilogrammes of what it says is a stock of the illicit drugs.
An intelligence briefing prepared for President Museveni accuses detectives involved in the anti-drug trafficking fight of profiteering and exacerbating the situation.
Week laws
“The weak laws; weak enforcement; failure to deport foreigners convicted for smuggling drugs into ,” a senior security source familiar with the inside dealings said.
“The weak laws; weak enforcement; failure to deport foreigners convicted for smuggling drugs into ,” a senior security source familiar with the inside dealings said.
The officer, who sought anonymity to speak freely about the sensitive matter, said police ignored calls to bring in the government chemist to ascertain that the substances lined up for destruction today are the classified narcotics.
Ms Josephine Alupo, the officer-in charge of Aviation Police at Entebbe Airport, has written to her commandant, Beata Chelimo, confirming that stockpiles of the narcotic drugs that should have been court exhibits – but have since been kept in the police store – are due to be set alight.
Ms Josephine Alupo, the officer-in charge of Aviation Police at Entebbe Airport, has written to her commandant, Beata Chelimo, confirming that stockpiles of the narcotic drugs that should have been court exhibits – but have since been kept in the police store – are due to be set alight.
“The exhibits of narcotic drugs kept at Aviation police stores are going to be destroyed,” she wrote in her undated letter. “This is to confirm to you that it is going to take place at Nsambya Police Clinic [in] Kampala on July 22, 2011, at 14 hours (2pm).”
Without certification by an expert, it would almost be impossible to conclude what the police plan to torch is cocaine or heroin, not their “look-alike powder swapped by some unscrupulous detectives”, our source added.
It is not clear why the drug stocks were in the first place not tendered as exhibit in court where suspects were taken, charged and convicted or acquitted.
A source familiar with the operations said suspected drug traffickers in Uganda now prefer to plead guilty in court and pay the required Shs1 million fine before returning to resume their trade, sometimes with knowledge of or protection afforded by law enforcement agencies.
A source familiar with the operations said suspected drug traffickers in Uganda now prefer to plead guilty in court and pay the required Shs1 million fine before returning to resume their trade, sometimes with knowledge of or protection afforded by law enforcement agencies.
Police Spokesperson Judith Nabakoooba said: “I have been told that there is nothing like that (of officers selling seized narcotic drugs)”.
“The drugs are sealed and bear the signature of the government chief chemist. If there is any doubt, it can be re-opened [today] for confirmation of the contents.”
“The drugs are sealed and bear the signature of the government chief chemist. If there is any doubt, it can be re-opened [today] for confirmation of the contents.”
Ms Nabakooba said she had been informed the volume of cocaine, heroin and methamsetamine in police possession that is due for destruction totals 25 kilogrammes.
Earlier, a police detective said they have in stock 25 kilogrammes of heroin, 10.6 kilogrammes of cocaine and 1.5 kilogrammes of methamsetamine confiscated in 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2011.
Separately, other security agencies say the police have since June 2009 seized illicit drugs worth Shs14 billion. These include 35 kilogrammes of heroin, 20 kilogrammes of cocaine, 16 kilogrammes of methamsetamine and 5 kilogrammes of methylthenetheylamine – which does not appear on the present police list.
The disparities in the figures also raise question about record keeping on the narcotics for which the US government recently flagged Uganda as a conduit for traffickers transiting from Asia and West Africa to Europe and the Americas.
Intake of the contraband drugs, some of which can be snorted or injected, is reported to be growing – and markedly among bar patrons – in Wandegeya, Kisenyi and Nakulabye, all Kampala suburbs.
Intake of the contraband drugs, some of which can be snorted or injected, is reported to be growing – and markedly among bar patrons – in Wandegeya, Kisenyi and Nakulabye, all Kampala suburbs.
Anti-Narcotic Police officers say they will be at Entebbe chief magistrate’s court at 9am today to obtain court directives, permitting them to burn the illicit drugs.
The chief government chemist or his representative is expected to be at court as well to verify the substances. Operatives say unless an independent anti-drug trafficking body detached from police is created and laws strengthened to provide stiffer penalties, the illicit business will continue to thrive in Uganda.
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