By Metedio Iceta.
ARUA CITY- The territorial police of Ayivu West Division, in Arua City have taken to court one Titus Omika male adult, aged 40, Lugbara by tribe, Boda-boda rider and a resident of Arua Public cell, Bazaar ward, Central division, Arua City over allegation of smuggling Government drugs to Democratic Republic of Congo.
SP Josephine Angucia,the Police Relations Officer for West Nile Region said the suspect was taken to Arua court on Wednesday 14th June 2023. “It’s alleged that on 17th April 2023, suspect Titus Omika was arrested by DR Congo police while transporting drugs that belonged to Uganda Government.
On 05th May 2023 DR Congo police handed over the suspect to Ugandan authorities at Odramachaku border in Ayivu West Division, Arua City, and was received by the Incharge of Odramachaku Police Post” “Immediately after being handed over to Uganda Police at the border, a case of smuggling government drugs was opened up, and was investigated under Ayivu West Division CRB 064/2023.
One box containing assortment of drugs was recovered from him with mark of Government of Uganda, and exhibited” She noted that Investigations were carried out, case file compiled and forwarded to the State Attorney Arua for legal advice.
“It was then sanctioned and suspect was produced before Arua court on 14th June 2023 to answer to the charge of Smuggling Government drugs and West Nile being a region that borders both DR Congo and South Sudan, with many vast porous borderlines, cases of smuggling Government drugs across the border have been occasionally registered.”
She said: “We therefore urge people not to smuggle government drugs across the border to the neighboring countries as the practice is not only illegal but denies the Citizens their right to getting essential drugs from government health facilities.
When such smugglers are arrested, they will be prosecuted according to the law, and we thank the authorities of DR Congo for arresting and handing over such culprits to Ugandan authorities for further management”