Police have destroyed 69.07 kilograms of narcotic drug exhibits worth approximately Shs1.7billion at the police barracks in Nsambya.
The burning comes at a time when the country is grappling with a rise in Ugandans engaging in the transportation of narcotics across the border.
The acting commissioner Anti-Narcotics, Zarugaba Tinka, who presided over the exercise said the exhibits aligned for destruction were seized in various operations in 2019/20.
These drugs included 62.77kgs of heroin, 2.90kgs of cocaine, 991.82gm of methamphetamine, among others.
“These exhibits were ceased by the Entebbe staff while trying to be smuggled either within or going outside the country,” he said adding that drug trafficking is on high increase.
“Ugandans are still being used as carriers of these drugs. The traffickers disguise narcotic while transporting so that they are not caught and Uganda happens to be one of the transit countries,” he said.
He said persons that were involved in drug trafficking were taken to court, convicted and paid a fine.
“The Minister Internal Affairs needs to urgently fast track the appointment of the committee known as National co-ordination committee for drug control as provided for in section 67 and 68 of the narcotic drug and psychotropic substances,” he said
Zarugaba, said these traffickers keep on changing the tactics each day given that there is tight security at the airport.
“Traffickers keeping on changing the tactics every day after realizing that Entebbe is becoming risky area to use as a result they are looking for a new route,” he said.
He cited some of the routes used by these cartels including use of Lake Victoria especially the Port Bell route of containers and use of land borders.