Looming drug crisis: Police probe 1,700 cases

KAMPALA - According to the 2022 Police report, 2,797 cases of narcotics/ drugs were reported to the Police countrywide, compared to 1,668 cases reported in 2021.

The victims of drug abuse are mainly young people from super-rich families, writes Simon Masaba.

Authorities are burning the midnight candle to deal with a looming drug crisis. Between January and August last year, cases related to drug use, supply and illicit deals surged to over 1,757, New Vision has learnt. 

A senior intelligence officer told the New Vision on condition of anonymity that children of the affluent elite living in opulent luxury are slipping into addiction in secluded, exclusive high-end bars. 

“The Police drug enforcement teams, commonly known as the Anti-Narcotic department, find themselves in a dilemma, unable to apprehend some renowned high-profile drug dealers operating within the confines of these top-notch bars. These establishments seem impervious to law enforcement, harbouring the progeny of the super-rich and affluent,” said the security officer. 

The officer also revealed that on several occasions, they have failed to raid a prominent bar within the confines of the leafy Lower Kololo in Kampala. 

“The bar revellers are sons of the super-rich. Would you dare raid such a place? The officer queried. Jane Kimaswa, an activist, says as the drug crisis continues to cast its ominous shadow, the urgent question lingers: 

“Could law enforcement break through the barriers erected by the high-end bars and dismantle the intricate web of influence, or would society remain ensnared in the clutches of a crisis that threatens to erode the fabric of its existence?”

Statistics 

According to the 2022 Police report, 2,797 cases of narcotics/ drugs were reported to the Police countrywide, compared to 1,668 cases reported in 2021, giving a 67.7% increase in this crime category. 

Police speak out 

In response to the escalating drug crisis, Fred Enanga, the then Police spokesperson, said they have undertaken interventions, including proactive awareness campaigns across schools, colleges, universities and nationwide. 

“Some of the perpetrators have been apprehended with concealed substances, such as cookies and groundnut paste laced with drugs. The alarming revelation underscores the urgency of addressing the issue at its roots,” Enanga said.
 
He said the Police's anti-narcotic enforcement department has, over time, executed intelligence-led raids in key regions notorious for narcotics cultivation. 

“Kalangala, Mpigi, Buikwe, Butambala and Busia, among other areas, have witnessed operations aimed at uprooting cultivated cannabis, a crucial step in disrupting the drug supply chain,” Enanga said. 

Police have also deployed strategic stop-and-search operations to target illicit drug dealers who operate under the cover of darkness, transporting their contraband to Kampala in the early morning hours. 

Enanga said the battle against narcotics extends beyond borders, evident in the diligent efforts at Entebbe International Airport, citing that the Police have successfully intercepted and recovered shipments of cocaine, a testament to their commitment to thwarting the influx of illicit substances through vital entry points.

This story was first published in the Weekend Vision of January 20-21, 2024.