Ethiopia: Tanzanian trafficker dies as drug capsules bursts in stomach
By Tesfa-alem Tekle
February 11, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) — A Tanzanian passenger who attempted to smuggle an extra amount of heroin in his stomach died on Monday following the burst of the drug capsules he swallowed while he took a flight from china to Tanzania via the Ethiopian airlines.
This is a second Tanzanian to lose his life in such attempt of drug trafficking in less than a month time. Two weeks ago a first Tanzanian passenger died after he suffered a serious internal complication following the burst of the heroin pellets he swallowed.
Hospital sources indicate that over 42 drug capsules were found in the stomach of the latest victim.
Federal police arrested both suspect’s Yahya Abdulkadir and Yousuf Said, after they collapsed while on board on two separate Ethiopian airline flights from china-Tanzania with a transit in Addis Ababa.
In recent years some African drug traffickers have made Ethiopia the best transit choice to smuggle drugs from and to the Middle East, china and to Asian nations.
Though Ethiopia is a party to all three drug control conventions: 1961, 1971 and 1988 drug control doesn’t appear to be the country’s top national priority. But there are promising efforts under way to curb, and control drug smuggling, local supply and prevent drug related crimes as well.
(ST)