An army officer and a juvenile are among those arrested during an operation to end substance use in the coast region, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) reports.
DCI, in a statement late on Saturday, September 14, 2024, said that a multi-agency team conducted the operation in the coast region and managed to arrest several and nabbed different kinds of substances.
“A multi-agency team of law enforcers supported by other government and non-government agencies and operating under Operation Usalama – Coast Region has completed a four-day operation that targeted substance dens in Kengeleni, Magodoroni, and Shanzu areas, Kisumu Ndogo, Sea Breeze within Malindi township, and Timboni area in Watamu.
“During the operation, several suspects, including a juvenile and an army officer, were arrested and substances seized. The substances include herǫin and diazepam, among others,” DCI’s statement read.
The multi-agency team, according to the agency, visited several shops where a search was conducted and counterfeited sportswear was also recovered.
A different operation targeting counterfeit books was also undertaken, where several bookshops were targeted.
“In another operation targeting individuals dealing in counterfeited books, the multi-agency team in the company of representatives from various publishing houses visited and inspected several bookshops,” DCI continued to say.
Target of operation
DCI further explained why the operation was conducted.
“The operation was necessitated as a result of the recognition by the chiefs of police of both regions of the threats posed by transnational activities, including motor vehicle theft, substance movement, trafficking in persons (TIP)/smuggling of migrants (SOM), and proliferation of small arms, fugitive tracking, smuggling of minerals, and counterfeit and illicit goods, and the need to cooperate in the fight against cross-border and transnational activities that afflict the two regions,” it concluded.
Operation Usalama is the brainchild of the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation (EAPCCO), a regional police body whose membership consists of Chiefs of Police in 14 countries, and the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Co-operation Organisation (SARPCCO), which is principally responsible for the prevention and combating of cross-border and transnational organised criminal activities.
