YES, OUR REGION IS A MAJOR CONDUIT, SAY CRIME BUSTERS

Nairobi -- A meeting of Criminal Investigations directors from the three
East African countries conceded that the region was increasingly being used
as a conduit for drugs. And they pointed fingers at Ethiopia as the entry
point.

They lamented that large quantities of heroin were being shipped into and
out of the region by sea and air.

The directors resolved that while continuing to intensify co-operation with
Customs and Immigration departments and deploying trained personnel at all
entry points, they also needed to increase pressure on respective
governments to buy more X-ray machines.

Detectives say drug traffickers are now using Ethiopia's Bole International
Airport due to increased vigilance at East African airports.

The East African governments resolved to work more closely with Ethiopian
airlines and anti-narcotics officers at Bole airport.

During the meeting held in Zanzibar, the directors were asked to urge their
governments to domesticate signed and ratified protocols on drug trafficking.

The Sudanese Government, through the Interpol Sub-Regional Bureau in
Nairobi, was asked to honour a pledge to supply sniffer dogs and conduct
the handlers course for interested member states. It was reported that dogs
supplied earlier by South Africa were either old or dead.

The meeting, also attended by the heads of anti-narcotics units, agreed to
implement the resolutions before the next East African Police Chiefs
Committee meeting.