Two Bolivian nationals arrested with cocaine worth shs2bn at Entebbe Airport
Police at Entebbe Airport has arrested two Bolivian nationals with cocaine pellets worth over two billion Ugandan shillings destined to an unknown location.
According to the Kampala Metropolitan deputy police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyie, Choque Condori Emilio, 24 and Martinez Villarpando Pedro, 22 arrived at the airport on September 29, 2019 aboard Ethiopian Airlines from Brazil and they had passed via Addis Ababa.
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“Our anti-narcotics drug staff suspected them to be in possession of narcotics drugs by swallowing and we arrested them,” Owoyesigyire said.
He noted that the duo was taken to the aviation police station and put on observation where each one of them passed out 100 pellets making it 200 for both suspects of substances suspected to be narcotic drugs.
“The 200 pellets had a gross weight of 2914.82 grams and preliminary tests indicate cocaine but have been submitted to the Government Analytical Laboratory for further analysis.”
By 2016, according to the International Narcotics Control Board, a kilogram of Cocaine costs US $20,000 whereas Heroin costs US$10,000 for one kilogram.
The 2914.82 grams would cost shs2.1 billion if that market value is to by, but the price could have increased.
The Police mouthpiece said the two Bolivians have been charged with two counts of unlawful possession of narcotic drugs contrary to section 4(1) and 2(a) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 2016 and trafficking of narcotics contrary to section 5 of the same act.
“Their files have been sanctioned and they will be appearing in court any time from now,”Owoyesigyire said.
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act stipulates that a person, who traffics in a narcotic drug of psychotropic substance, commits an offence and is liable in respect of the narcotic drugs or psychotropic substance to a fine not less than five hundred currency points or three times the market value of the narcotic drug or psychotropic substance, whichever is greater, and in addition, to imprisonment for life.
Police early this year seized narcotic drugs worth Shs3.2bn (US$853,328) and arrested seven suspects in just three days at Entebbe Airport.
