East Africa leaves nothing to chance when it comes to drugs and weapons because it has become a key route for Afghan heroin to Europe. Hence, all ships that pass through are thoroughly searched for the contraband. Last week on Thursday, Kenyan police found firearms and drugs on the Norwegian-flagged Hoegh Transporter, which was carrying a consignment from Mumbai to the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, MONUSCO. The weapons that were not declared belong to the U.N. vehicles in which they were found and were for use by the U.N. during their peacekeeping mission. The fact that weapons were in the vehicles is in violation of the terms of transportation.
Charles Bambara, a spokesman for MONUSCO, said the consignment of armoured personnel carriers and weapons was due to be delivered to Indian peacekeepers based in North Kivu province. The Indian firm handling the shipment had not declared all the cargo to Kenyan authorities, had since completed the necessary forms, he said. Regional police commander Francis Wanjohi did not have more details regarding the nature of the weapons and drugs found.
In July, Kenyan police seized 341 kg of heroin hidden in the diesel tank of a ship, the biggest single seizure of drugs at Mombasa.
Source: Reuters
