Pubdate: Tue, 30 Mar 2004
Source: East African Standard, The (Kenya)
Copyright: 2004 The East African Standard
Contact:  http://www.eastandard.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1743
Author: Dominic Wabala

YES, OUR REGION IS A MAJOR CONDUIT, SAY CRIME BUSTERS

Nairobi -- A meeting of Criminal Investigations directors from the three 
East African countries conceded that the region was increasingly being used 
as a conduit for drugs. And they pointed fingers at Ethiopia as the entry 
point.

They lamented that large quantities of heroin were being shipped into and 
out of the region by sea and air.

The directors resolved that while continuing to intensify co-operation with 
Customs and Immigration departments and deploying trained personnel at all 
entry points, they also needed to increase pressure on respective 
governments to buy more X-ray machines.

Detectives say drug traffickers are now using Ethiopia's Bole International 
Airport due to increased vigilance at East African airports.

The East African governments resolved to work more closely with Ethiopian 
airlines and anti-narcotics officers at Bole airport.

During the meeting held in Zanzibar, the directors were asked to urge their 
governments to domesticate signed and ratified protocols on drug trafficking.

The Sudanese Government, through the Interpol Sub-Regional Bureau in 
Nairobi, was asked to honour a pledge to supply sniffer dogs and conduct 
the handlers course for interested member states. It was reported that dogs 
supplied earlier by South Africa were either old or dead.

The meeting, also attended by the heads of anti-narcotics units, agreed to 
implement the resolutions before the next East African Police Chiefs 
Committee meeting.