Kenya Extradites 30 Foreigners Over Drug Peddling

Kenya has extradited more than 30 people in recent months over their link to drug peddling in institutions of higher learning, acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i says.

Speaking when he opened the Inter-regional Conference on Addressing and Countering the Drug Problem, in Nairobi on Monday, the CS said the government is committed to the war against narcotics.

Matiang’i pointed out that the deportations were part of stringent guidelines the government has laid down to cut down the sale of illegal drugs in the country.

“We have invested heavily in enforcement and trying to suppress the supply of drugs in the country. Trafficking in illicit drugs poses threats to the health and security of people and regions across the world and as a government we will be at the forefront in the war on drugs,” said Matiangi.

In the 2017 theme of ‘Sharing of best practices between the Americas, Africa and Asia’, Matiang’i underscored the need for concerted efforts between countries in the fight against drug trafficking.

“As every country puts up efforts to address the challenge of illicit drug trafficking, it is important that there is regular exchange of information and knowledge,” he said.

He mentioned treatment and rehabilitation, supply suppression, border control, inter-agency collaboration, development and implementation of policies as some of the programs the government has designed Matiang’i to reduce drug abuse.

“I am convinced that the outcome of this conference will go a long way in finding solutions and strengthening regional collaboration in addressing the drug problem,” said Matiang’i.

As a continent, we should come together and put our heads together in fighting this illegal business,” he added.

In attendance for this year’s conference are experts drawn from the United States, Cape Verde, Colombia, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama, Egypt, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Mozambique and South Africa.