COCAINE FACTORIES AT THE COAST?

Nairobi -- Drug barons could be processing cocaine and other hard drugs in
Mombasa's Old Town.

The "factories" are said to be hidden in tunnels that run through the Old
Town in which slaves were kept during the Arab slave trade era, according
to a source who understands the intricate drug business at the Coast.

The information came as police in Nairobi busted an international drug
syndicate that has baffled investigators.

The source offered to take us to a "factory" where mandrax and cocaine are
manufactured.

However, the writer declined the "offer" for security reasons after the
source insisted that he must agree to be driven to the factory blind-folded.

In the factory he was to be shown how the drugs are processed and then
again be blinded-folded before leaving.

This was supposedly to ensure the writer could not direct police to the
"factory" later.

The writer was to pose as a buyer to get clearance from one of the dealers
to visit the "factory".

Our source rang the supplier and said the writer was a dealer who had just
arrived from Tanzania and wanted a big quantity of the substance.

The writer also spoke to the drug dealer on the cell phone and was assured
that he could get the drug.

The dealer said he was in a Nairobi hotel distributing the drug in the city
but promised to supply the substance at the factory immediately he returned
to Mombasa.

Anti Narcotics Police Unit spokesman Gideon Kibunja admitted that about
seven years ago police discovered a mandrax factory at Changamwe. But he
did not think a cocaine factory existed, saying it would not be viable to
bring in the raw material.

Our investigations found that the drug trade in Mombasa is so intricate
that it would take nothing short of a full war by police to dismantle it.

The drugs are sold in houses, which are well protected by fortified doors
and watched over by hired people who look out for any intruders. Most are
in the plush and quiet areas of the town, such as Nyali, where they attract
little suspicion.

And some of them are registered under fictitious names so that when the
police raid and seize drugs, it becomes difficult to prosecute the house owner.

Police in Mombasa say the issue often is how to prove a suspect is in
possession of drugs when they raid a house filled with people.

In Old Town, police have conducted several raids but the illicit business
continues to thrive.

Kibunja admits the war against drug barons is not easy as the dealers are
quite elusive.

But he says police will continue with the war.

In an interview, Kibunja also noted that some of the suspects always got
freed once they were taken to court.

And there are ominous signs that cocaine, heroin and bhang dealers are
expanding well beyond Mombasa.

Sources said Mombasa dealers are opening up other business branches in a
formation of islands near Somali, such Lamu, Pate, Siu, Faza and Kiunga.