Statement from The Interior Ministry Chief
STATEMENT BY CABINET SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF INTERIOR AND COORDINATION OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, ON HEROIN DESTRUCTION ON AUGUST 14, 2015.
On 18th of May this year, during a NACADA campaign meeting I informed the nation that the Government would blow up any vessel, including planes, ships and any form of transport used to sneak in drugs into our country.
Today, at exactly 12 Midday, I witnessed the blowing up of a Yacht at the High seas, carrying 6.7 kilogrammes of heroin, with a street value of Sh 23 million here in Mombasa.
The yacht, registered in Britain, was intercepted by our security, on 9th April 2015, attempting to sneak in the drugs, and was seized at the Kilifi boat yard.
Due diligence was done and as I committed, I have overseen the destruction exercise carried out by Kenya Navy.
Kenyans will recall that on 28th August last year, His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta witnessed our security teams undertake the destruction of the ship MV Al Noor with a heroin cargo valued at Sh1.3 billion.
Today’s exercise is a further resolve of Kenya’s commitment to the war against narcotics and international crimes.
Our security forces have routinely seized and destroyed caches of drugs across the country and prosecuted those responsible.
I wish to reiterate here today, that Kenya will not be used as a transit country nor will it be used as a drug trafficking base.
We shall intensify the inspection of every cargo that docks or lands at any of the ports in the country.
The war against drugs and narcotics is particularly critical because there is a clearly established link between the international drug trade and the financing of terrorist activities. Furthermore, drugs targeting the youth are a sure way to destroy our future. Today in Kenya more than two million people, particularly the youth are addicted to drug and substance abuse.
As Government, we are sending out a strong message to those drug traffickers, the merchants of evil keen on destroying our youth while at the same time funding unscrupulous criminal activities that pose a threat to the security of the country that we will not relent.
We will not relent on the destruction of illegal merchandise and contrabands.
As the Cabinet Secretary in charge, I assure Kenyans that our youth and their future will not be destroyed as we watch from the sidelines, neither will we allow our country to be tainted because of the interests of a few individuals.
The same applies to the brewers of illicit and second generation alcohol. The war on this vice is on and it is real, we will not tire. We will not allow our country’s security to be compromised. We will not allow the future of our youth to be destroyed. We will not give peace to the merchants of evil and drugs lords. They will never win.
We have said NO and Government will continue to destroy any vessel, be it a ship, plane, car used by those who wish to enrich themselves at the expense of the Kenyan people.
I take this opportunity to thank the KDF and other security agencies for their continued effort to secure our country, and you Kenyans for informing us about criminal activities happening around you. I encourage the strengthening of this valuable cooperation.
I Thank You!
MAJOR GENERAL (Rtd) JOSEPH NKAISSERRY.
CABINET SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF INTERIOR AND COORDINATION OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.
AUGUST, 14 2015.
