MOMBASA, Kenya, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Kenya plans to combat international drug trafficking and smuggling of contraband goods through the review, vetting and registration afresh of the nearly 700 private jetties and landing sites across the country, a government official said on Wednesday.
Fred Matiang'i, Cabinet Secretary of Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Security, told a forum in Mombasa that he was in consultation with his Transport counterpart James Macharia in a bid to review and register afresh all the jetties and landing sites, especially at the Indian Ocean coast.
"Most of the landing sites are barely supervised by government agencies and this had lead to increased illegal activities by international syndicates," Matiang'i said.
According to Vincent Leonola, Director-general of Kenya Coast Guard Service, there are 693 private jetties and landing sites.
Matiang'i noted that some of the private jetties are used to move illegal goods.
"We are aware that there are certain individuals who are thriving on doing illegal business of trafficking in drugs and other contraband goods in the name of those private jetties," he said.
He said that the Kenya Maritime Authority would begin the exercise of registering jetties afresh in July after undertaking a vigorous exercise of vetting.
"This is to ensure we provide security for our country and our people, and to support genuine businesses that support our economy," Matiang'i said. Enditem
