Somalia bans narcotic imports to combat youth drug abuse

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Friday July 26, 2024

Prescription drugs displayed at a pharmacy in Mogadishu. The Somali government has banned the importation of narcotics to combat rising drug abuse. BBC/ Fathi Mohamed Ahmed

Mogadishu (HOL) — The Somali government has banned the importation of narcotic drugs to combat escalating drug abuse, Deputy Health Minister Mohamed Hassan Mohamed Bulaale announced Tuesday, warning traders of severe penalties for violations.

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"It is prohibited to bring narcotic drugs into the country. In recent years, some traders have been importing these drugs. They should know that such drugs will be confiscated at the port and airport. I urge them to stop this practice to prevent harm to their fellow citizens," Bulaale said.

The ban comes amid increasing concerns over drug abuse, particularly the misuse of powerful opiates like tramadol and pethidine in Mogadishu and other parts of the country. The Banadir regional administration, which governs the capital, has been actively combating drug trafficking and abuse. In April 2023, the administration revoked several business licenses in Mogadishu as part of anti-drug operations targeting locations where drugs were allegedly being sold and consumed, including popular spots like Liido Beach.

Drug abuse has reached alarming levels in Mogadishu, with rising addiction rates, especially among the youth. In December 2022, Somali police seized a large shipment of prescription drugs, including opioids, at Aden Adde International Airport. These drugs are often sold at pharmacies without prescriptions, making them easily accessible to young people.

The Banadir administration has also taken additional steps to combat this issue, including the public destruction of illegal pharmaceutical drugs sourced from medical centers and pharmacies implicated in unlawful distribution.

Mayor Yusuf Hussein Jim'ale Madale, who spearheaded these efforts following community complaints about drug sales within businesses, issued stern warnings to traffickers and businesspeople implicated in importing the harmful opiates.

The Somali government said they would target pharmacies in Mogadishu and have been making significant profits from selling opioids over the counter.

Somalia's narcotics problem is part of a broader regional issue in East Africa, where weak governance and state structures have allowed drug trafficking to flourish. Terrorist groups like Al-Shabaab have exploited these conditions, using maritime routes to smuggle narcotics and other illicit goods. The East African coastline, critical to global trade, has become a hotspot for various forms of maritime crime, including drug trafficking.

Deputy Minister of Health Mohamed Hassan Mohamed Bulaale announces the nationwide ban on narcotic drug imports to address escalating drug abuse issues in Somalia. SNTV/ Screengrab

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