Garissa Muslim leaders urge crackdown on cross-border drug trafficking to save youth

National Muslim Leaders Forum in Garissa (NAMLEF) and community elders on Tuesday expressed concern on rising cases of drug and substance abuse in Garissa town.

They called upon the government to address cross-border drug trafficking in the region to keep youth from the vice.

Speaking to the press in Garissa town, the leaders said the situation was getting out of hand and cannot be left to continue unabated.

According to them, drugs such as bhang, miraa, and pharmaceutical drugs, including diazepam, were affecting many youths, including students.

Mohamed Hassan, the NAMLEF Treasurer, regretted that some of these drugs were coming from neighbouring countries and were sold openly.

He attributed the recent wave of teenage violence in Garissa to the drugs.

"We gathered here to urge the government to listen to our concerns and strengthen a crackdown on all involved in the illegal drugs trade," he said.

He said that the crackdown carried out once in a year by the relevant authorities will not help to prevent drug abuse in Garissa town.

"We want a relentless effort that will see a weekly crackdowns within Garissa town and its environs with serious policing within the border entry points," he stated.

Mohamed urged the government to revoke the business license of pharmaceutical shops that were selling unprescribed drugs to the youth.

Reluctance

He accused the law enforcement agencies of being reluctant to address the widespread drug and substance abuse in Garissa.

Dubat Ali Amey, the National Livestock Marketing chairman and community elder, called upon the local leaders to take a lead front in the campaign against drug abuse.

He appealed to NACADA and law enforcement agencies to undertake a continuous crackdown to fight against drug and substance abuse.

"They should not only act when there is a nationwide crackdown or on presidential orders to take few people to court. This needs a continuous effort in terms of a weekly or monthly to rescue our youth," he urged.

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He questioned why security personnel were reluctant to apprehend the suppliers, distributors and peddlers despite NACADA sharing vital information with them.

Dubat also blamed parents for poor parenting that leads to teenagers becoming hooked on drugs.

Sheikh Hassan Amey, the chair of NAMLEF Garissa branch, highlighted the need for change in the approach used to address drug abuse.

"We are losing a whole generation. We need continuous action that involves the chiefs, Nyumba Kumi committees, religious leaders, elected leaders, security officers and NACADA coming up with a program that will address this crisis," he said.

He further said cross-border trafficking of drugs such as bhang needs to be addressed to avert increasing drug abuse that is worrying many parents.

In March last year, a multi-agency operation nabbed over 450 stones of cannabis sativa in Garissa town.

The operation, led by the North Eastern NACADA regional manager Wangai Gachoka, also managed to recover ten kilograms of Diazepam, a drug used in the treatment of short-term anxiety.

During the operation, three people were arraigned before Garissa law courts.