Bhang worth over Kshs 3.5 Million, as well as several crates and cartons of counterfeit alcoholic beverages have been destroyed through burning, crushing and burying at the Isiolo Law Courts grounds, following conclusion of the respective cases involving them.
Speaking at the Court Grounds where she presided over the exercise, the Chief Magistrate at the Isiolo Law Courts Lucy Mutai said that the move was aimed at ensuring that the outlawed substances never find their way back into the market, as a way of supporting the fight against drug and substance abuse.
Mutai said that the bhang in question was 120 Kilogrammes, with a street value of not less than Kshs 3.5 Million, while the counterfeit alcoholic drinks were brought by the Kenya Revenue Authority, with excise duty not paid for and were therefore forfeited to the state.
The magistrate noted that the issue of bhang was of serious concern, with many people committing serious offences after indulging in its abuse, hence the need to reduce it to ashes to ensure that it doesn’t find its way back to the market under any circumstances.
Isiolo County Government’s Deputy County Secretary Mohamed Boru lauded the coordination between the government enforcement units and the judiciary to ensure that the war against drug and substance abuse is successful, noting that continued nabbing of drugs, successful prosecution of those involved and destruction of the outlawed substances was key to ensuring a safe environment for the youths.
Isiolo Deputy County Commissioner Patrick Musango and Isiolo Interfaith Network Secretary Bishop Stephen Kalunyu hailed the Isiolo Law courts under the leadership of Chief Magistrate Lucy Mutai for ensuring that matters relating to drugs are fast tracked, culprits brought to book and the drug substances destroyed as soon as the matters are effectively concluded.
This is the second time in just over five months that such an exercise was being undertaken at the Isiolo Law Courts Grounds.
