Pubdate: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 Source: New Vision (Uganda) Copyright: 2005 New Vision Contact: http://www.newvision.co.ug/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/522 Author: Madinah Tebajjukir 'ANTI-NARCOTIC COPS LACK SKILLS' KAMPALA - The Criminal investigation Department (CID) chief, Elizabeth Kutesa, has said the majority of the narcotic staff lack adequate skills and detecting equipment to handle drug abuse and trafficking. "Less than 50% of the Anti-narcotics Unit staff have benefited from courses. Many use trial and error methods or gambling on the job," she said. Kutesa said this in a speech read by the commissioner of crime, Edison Mbiringi, at the regional course on drug investigative techniques at Kireka sports view hotel on Friday. She said the narcotic drugs situation was a horrific problem in the East African region, which must be addressed immediately. "Drug investigations need dedication, self restraint and integrity. We need to exercise maximum discipline when executing our duties," she said. Addressing participants from Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, Kutesa said narcotics investigations were complicated compared to other criminal cases. "The drug problem is spreading like wildfire in the bush starting from the urban centres to the rural areas," she said. She said slum areas such as Kisenyi in Kampala and others in Nairobi and Dar es salaam were targeted by illicit drug traffickers who use the regions ports as transit routes for the contraband to the west. Kutesa said criminals use sophisticated measures to conceal drugs. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin