A Uganda Police Force official sets fire during an event to destroy over 56 kilograms of seized narcotic drugs in Kampala, Uganda, Nov. 10, 2023.
The Ugandan police and aviation authorities burnt more than 56 kg of illicit and narcotic drugs seized at Entebbe International Airport in the capital of Kampala from January 2020 to November 2023. (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua)
KAMPALA, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan police and aviation authorities burnt more than 56 kg of illicit and narcotic drugs seized at Entebbe International Airport in the capital of Kampala from January 2020 to November 2023.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations, in collaboration with the aviation police, destroyed 42.7 kg of heroin, 6.6 kg of cocaine and 7.2 kg of methamphetamine at Nsambya Police Barracks in Kampala.
Entebbe Chief Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis presided over the event and expressed her appreciation for the aviation police's efforts in apprehending suspects and seizing these illicit drugs.
"Drugs are a significant problem in Uganda, similar to ivory. I am prepared to hear any cases related to illicit drugs in court. The issue is that we have weak laws that need to be amended," she said.
Juliet Baguma, head of Criminal Investigation at the Aviation Police, said during the ceremony that since January 2020, the aviation police have arrested more than 30 drug offenders at the country's international airport, and all the suspects were convicted in court. "In all these cases, the suspects were convicted and sentenced to fines and other custodial sentences."
Uganda is considered a transit point for drug traffickers from South America and Southeast Asia. ■
A Ugandan police follows as a sniffer dog checks for narcotic drugs during an event to destroy over 56 kilograms of seized narcotic drugs in Kampala, Uganda, Nov. 10, 2023.
The Ugandan police and aviation authorities burnt more than 56 kg of illicit and narcotic drugs seized at Entebbe International Airport in the capital of Kampala from January 2020 to November 2023. (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua)
Police officers check a pack of heroin during an event to destroy over 56 kilograms of seized narcotic drugs in Kampala, Uganda, Nov. 10, 2023.
The Ugandan police and aviation authorities burnt more than 56 kg of illicit and narcotic drugs seized at Entebbe International Airport in the capital of Kampala from January 2020 to November 2023. (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua)