Lamu law courts have destroyed bhang and illicit drugs with a street value of Sh900,000 in a move aimed at discouraging the sale of illicit substances within the county.
The bhang haul was part of a consignment confiscated in the county over the last year in whose cases have been concluded.
The exercise was led by Lamu Principal Magistrate Temba Sitati in collaboration with members of the Lamu Law Court Users Committee.
Temba stated that the decision to set the bhang ablaze was meant to dissuade the illicit trade of drugs in the county.
The destruction of the bhang, which took place in Amu Island’s Kashmir area was also witnessed by the public, civil society activists, and religious leaders and will send a strong message in the war on drugs initiative driven by the county security team.
The Principal Magistrate appealed to members of the public to actively cooperate with security agents to aid in stamping out the influx of bhang and other illicit drugs in Lamu.
He further said that the destruction of drug substances submitted as exhibits at the Lamu Law Courts would be done every four months to send out a strong signal to members of the public over the government’s will to stamp out drug abuse.
Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics Chairman and Lamu Law Courts Users Committee treasurer Mohamed Abdulkadir welcomed the move to burn bhang and stated that the move would aid in preventing the loss of exhibits after the cases are concluded that end up back in the public.
He further stated that the public display of burning the exhibits was a good show of the court’s transparency and integrity in handling drug cases and would play a role in aiding the citizens feel confident in court rulings.
The sentiments were echoed by Lamu County Commissioner Macharia Irungu who stated that the war on drugs would persistently continue regardless of the campaign period and urged the youth to follow the law and refrain from partaking in the use, sale or distribution of illegal substances.
