Police recover drugs worth sh20m
Feb 04, 2009
THE Police in Kampala have impounded drugs worth over sh20m that three suspected smugglers attempted to sneak into Tanzania.
By Herbert Ssempogo
THE Police in Kampala have impounded drugs worth over sh20m that three suspected smugglers attempted to sneak into Tanzania.
Boniface Baguma, Patrick Muhumuza and Abdu Akheel on January 29 told staff at the Uganda Railways Corporation in Kampala that they were exporting shoes.
On inspection, however, the officials discovered that the bales had drugs.
Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba yesterday said the men, who have since been released on bond, were planning to ship the drugs to Mwanza.
The drugs are cold cap for influenza, Mifuen, a muscle relaxer and Kuber, an intoxicant made out of tobacco. It was not clear who would receive the items on arrival in Tanzania.
Another man, Andrew Zabasajja, was nabbed in connection with smuggling UniGold HIV testing kits into Uganda. He is also out on bond.
According to Nabakooba, the suspects will face charges of importing and exporting drugs without permission.
The National Drug Authority publicist, Frederick Ssekyana, said permission should have been sought first.
She said the drugs would be subjected to tests to confirm their suitability for use by humans.
Railways Police chief Paul Okello said the practice of smuggling medicines disguised as clothes
and other luggage was rampant.
Meanwhile, six people have been netted in connection with forging documents.
The men, who were on Monday afternoon rounded up near Colville Street in Kampala, are allegedly specialists in falsifying Police and Uganda Revenue Authority documents and stamps.
A warrant of arrest supposedly signed by the Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, was among the documents that were recovered.
Jespas Otekat, John Martin Nkojjo, Matthew Ggombe, Gerald Mutebi, Charles Kaggwa and Herbert Rumanyika are detained at Kira Road Police Station.
The Police were led to their hideout by Robert Abiti, whom the Police nabbed in an earlier operation against forged driving permits, Nabakooba told the journalists.
“We have been informed that many people are involved in these activities. Our investigations team will soon close in on them,†she stated.
THE Police in Kampala have impounded drugs worth over sh20m that three suspected smugglers attempted to sneak into Tanzania.
Boniface Baguma, Patrick Muhumuza and Abdu Akheel on January 29 told staff at the Uganda Railways Corporation in Kampala that they were exporting shoes.
On inspection, however, the officials discovered that the bales had drugs.
Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba yesterday said the men, who have since been released on bond, were planning to ship the drugs to Mwanza.
The drugs are cold cap for influenza, Mifuen, a muscle relaxer and Kuber, an intoxicant made out of tobacco. It was not clear who would receive the items on arrival in Tanzania.
Another man, Andrew Zabasajja, was nabbed in connection with smuggling UniGold HIV testing kits into Uganda. He is also out on bond.
According to Nabakooba, the suspects will face charges of importing and exporting drugs without permission.
The National Drug Authority publicist, Frederick Ssekyana, said permission should have been sought first.
She said the drugs would be subjected to tests to confirm their suitability for use by humans.
Railways Police chief Paul Okello said the practice of smuggling medicines disguised as clothes
and other luggage was rampant.
Meanwhile, six people have been netted in connection with forging documents.
The men, who were on Monday afternoon rounded up near Colville Street in Kampala, are allegedly specialists in falsifying Police and Uganda Revenue Authority documents and stamps.
A warrant of arrest supposedly signed by the Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, was among the documents that were recovered.
Jespas Otekat, John Martin Nkojjo, Matthew Ggombe, Gerald Mutebi, Charles Kaggwa and Herbert Rumanyika are detained at Kira Road Police Station.
The Police were led to their hideout by Robert Abiti, whom the Police nabbed in an earlier operation against forged driving permits, Nabakooba told the journalists.
“We have been informed that many people are involved in these activities. Our investigations team will soon close in on them,†she stated.