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The Kenyan city of Mombasa, the largest port in East Africa, has become the capital of a new drug trafficking route. Heroin from Asia and cocaine from Latin America now transit through Kenya, before heading to Europe. FRANCE 24s team reports.
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Its an increasingly common sight off the East African coast, especially in Kenya: a ship from Pakistan with a cargo of heroin on board – containing poppies harvested in Afghanistan and refined in Pakistan. A few kilometres off the Kenyan coast, its joined by a small fishing boat.
In recent years, a new route has been opened up by international drug traffickers. And for good reason: the Kenyan coast is long and poorly monitored. No wonder, then, thats its easy to smuggle drugs into the country.
Once delivered to Kenya, heroin – and sometimes also cocaine – is brought to Mombasa, the countrys second-largest city and the regions biggest port. From there, smugglers have several options: taking a plane straight to Europe or Dubai; moving the drugs to the capital Nairobi to send them abroad more discreetly; or even sending them to South Africa or West Africa to use an even less obvious route.
A growing public health problem
Our reporters met drug mules, like David, who regularly ingest drugs to transport them discreetly and avoid security checks. Its dangerous work, but extremely well-paid: David can earn up to €10,000 each time he smuggles drugs ouRead More – Source
