Enhance surveillance to curb drug trafficking

The latest upsurge in cross-border drug trafficking poses a grave danger that calls for urgent measures to stop the menace. Recent high-profile drug seizures show that cannabis sativa trafficking has evolved beyond street-level peddling, with an increase in dirty tricks by the networks involved. Unlike in the past, high-end luxury cars are now being used to ferry sackfuls of illicit drugs.

Motorcyclists are also hired to transport narcotic drugs, especially marijuana. A total of 13.8 tonnes of marijuana valued at Sh416,372 million were seized across the country, and 1,616 suspects were arrested between January and September. Western Kenya is the main corridor, with the main source of bhang being Uganda.

Law enforcement agencies are locked in an intense cat-and-mouse struggle with rapidly evolving cannabis trafficking syndicates. Addressing the vice requires international cooperation, advanced technology, and community-based strategies.

Technology can be used to infiltrate and dismantle the anonymous online marketplaces and illicit forums being used to broker and enable bulk drug shipments. This calls for the implementation of community education programmes to reduce the local demand that fuels the international drug trade.

Technology should also be used to enable cargo-scanning technology at the ports of entry to detect hidden contraband. Surveillance should be intensified to monitor the blind spots along vast land borders and remote maritime smuggling routes.

Trafficking syndicates are increasingly exploiting acute unemployment to recruit desperate young people as drug couriers, or "mules". Traffickers post deceptive job offers on digital platforms and social media, targeting regions with high joblessness.

Expanding mental health and addiction recovery infrastructure to treat substance use disorders is a public health priority.

The Anti-Narcotics Unit of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations should up its game to confront the dealers. Greater vigilance across the country is required to monitor the illicit trade.

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