By Mbabazi Hanning
The Uganda aviation police at Entebbe Airport is detaining a Dutch national Jhinkole Rai, for being found in possession of 59 packages of suspected heroin.
The anti-narcotic unit caught Rai at the departures hold baggage screening machine with a cream powdered substance suspected to be narcotics that were suspected to be heroin concealed in them weighing 63.9 kilograms.
Luke Owoyesigyire, the Kampala Metropolitan deputy police spokesperson said, “Rai 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.”
“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.” Owoyesigire added.
Jhinkole Rai 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. Police in March 2019 destroyed about 600 kilograms of narcotic drugs worth Shs7 billion seized at Entebbe airport and other border points since 2015.
He will be charged with unlawful possession of narcotic drugs contrary to section 4(1) and 2(a) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (control) Act 2016.
Police say he told them he did not know the packages contained illicit drugs.
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.
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.
