Somalia’s Transitional National Government burned about 1,000 kg of seized drugs in public in front of the police academy in Mogadishu on Saturday, in an event attended by President Abdiqassim Salad Hassan and other senior officials.[1] Police chief Abdi Hasan Awale Qeybdid said the drugs, mostly cannabis, had been seized in special operations over the previous few months by anti-narcotics police.[1] He said 280 people had so far been detained on drugs charges.[1]
Where the drugs came from
Qeybdid said the drugs were found mostly in Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle, Lower Juba and Middle Juba and in districts of the capital, and that officers had also seized about 40 kg of cannabis seed from India.[1] He said the police believed some of the drugs were in transit to other countries.[1] He appealed to the international donor community for help with training, drugs education and equipment.[1]