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Garissa drug crackdown: Five more arrested in intensified operations

Three senior officials from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) have been arrested over the manufacturing and distribution of fake fertilisers to farmers in the country.

By Issa Hussein | 08 Mar 2024

He said the suspects will appear before Garissa court to take plea on the charges that will be preferred against them.

Five more people were arrested on Friday as the crackdown on drugs intensified in Garissa town.

Five other suspects were arrested on Wednesday following the crackdown in the town.

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The Joint operation by NACADA, the Interior Ministry, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board and the Garissa municipality targeted kiosks, pharmacy shops and peddlers of psychotropic drugs.

According to Healthline, a psychotropic describes any drug that affects behavior, mood, thoughts, or perception. This can include medications for anxiety and depression as well as antipsychotics, among others. It’s an umbrella term for a lot of different drugs, including prescription drugs and commonly misused drugs.

North Eastern NACADA coordinator Wangai Gachoki said the 10 arrested suspects were selling psychotropic drugs commonly used by Miraa consumers.

He said the suspects will appear before Garissa court to take plea on the charges that will be preferred against them.

Diazepam sachets found in a kiosk. (Screengrab)

He stated that several others who escaped the police dragnet were being pursued.

Abdinassir Ahmed, a representative from the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, warned registered pharmaceutical shops against supplying drugs to the peddlers and informal kiosks.

"Unless we know where these psychotropic drugs were supplied from, we will not relent on the war against the drug and substance abuse in Garissa," Abdinasir said.

He revealed that a consignment of diazepam drugs was also seized in the operation. Diazepam is commonly used to treat anxiety disorders and alcohol detoxification, acute recurrent seizures, severe muscle spasms, and spasticity associated with neurologic disorders, according to the National Institute of Health.

"Miraa consumers have habitually been abusing the drugs that are also injectable that are used to treat certain seizure disorders and help relax muscles," he said.

Two weeks ago, Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale who attended a graduation ceremony in Garissa called upon the Interior ministry and religious leaders to collaborate against drug and substance use in Garissa town.