The anti-narcotic unit under the aviation police at Entebbe is holding a Dutch citizen after being found in possession with suspected heroin.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Area deputy police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, Jhinkole Rai, also known as Ruben was intercepted on Wednesday afternoon while at the departures hold baggage screening machine
“He was destined to travel to Italy aboard Emirates and was intercepted with two suitcases, containing altogether 59 packages each labeled chococino special’ and ‘richer chocolate taste’,”Owoyesigyire told the Nile Post.
He said the packages had a cream powdered substance suspected to be narcotics with suspected heroin concealed in them and in total, the 59 packages weighed 63.9 kilograms.
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.
This means the 63.9 kilograms to cost shs2 billion.
The police mouthpiece says the Dutch national is currently detained at the aviation police in Entebbe whereas the suspected narcotics have been sent to the Government Analytical Laboratory for analysis before the suspect is taken to court.
We are also expanding our investigation into the matter to establish whether it is an organised gang, network or it was an individual working alone,”Owoyesigyire.
“We also want to appreciate officers from aviation police, together with sister agencies for the close coordination and job well done in the fight against drugs.”
A number of these narcotic drugs are produced in Asian countries before being trafficked to Uganda, which is a transit country for these drugs to Europe and United States.
Police in March 2019 destroyed about 600 kilogrammes of narcotic drugs worth Shs7 billion seized at Entebbe airport and other border points since 2015.
A number of people mostly foreign nationals have over the years been arrested at Entebbe airport with narcotic drugs and many of them have been arraigned before court.
In 2016, three foreigners were jailed 39 years after being found guilty of trafficking narcotic drugs
South Africa’s Golie Grace Onyia (55 years),Nkcosolwana Funiwe Abegail(32) and Aniugo Gloria Vera from Nigeria were convicted and sentenced to18,10 and 11 years imprisonment respectively at Kigo prison by the Entebbe magistrates court whereas another trafficker, 76 year old Aniugo Agnes Egonna was able to pay the Shs15 million fine as ordered by court before being deported back to Nigeria.
The group had been arrested with drugs they had pushed between layers of their suit cases before sewing them together and applying glue.
On checking, they were found with 3786grams of cocaine worth Shs259 million and 856grams of heroin worth Shs56 million.
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