The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority-UCAA has said Police with sister security agencies at Entebbe International Airport have intercepted suspected narcotics disguised as coffee for export.

According to UCAA spokesperson Vianney Luggya, the suspicious cargo was disguised as coffee samples in branded packets of African Premium Coffee for export.

He addds that it was detected during screening at 10:10pm on June 13, 2022.

“The shipper’s details bore a Ugandan name and the consignment was destined for Auckland, New Zealand,” Luggya said. He revealed that they have since handed over the suspicious cargo to Aviation Police for further investigations.

SUSPECTED DRUGS INTERCEPTED IN CARGO
Security at Entebbe International Airport (EIA) intercepted a suspected drug (methamphetamine) disguised as coffee samples for export on June 13, 2022 at 2210 hrs. The narcotic substance was detected during screening of the cargo. @PoliceUg pic.twitter.com/z5ofMOIjh5

— Uganda CAA (@UgandaCAA) June 14, 2022

Luke Owoyesigyire, the Kampala Metropolitan deputy spokesperson, says they have withheld the name of the shipper for purposes of investigations.

This comes two weeks after Uganda Revenue Authority-URA opened the Air Cargo Control Unit at Entebbe Airport to detect illicit imports and exports and centralize information sharing systems regarding suspicious and intercepted items at the cargo centre and passenger terminal building.

Located at the new cargo center, the unit is the central office for officials from URA, Uganda Wildlife Authority-UWA, Aviation Police, Aviation Security, and Uganda Civil Aviation Authority-UCAA.

The team leader of the unit is URA customs officer, Priscilla Mary Najjuma, who says officials usually get suspicious cargo and passengers during screening but also act on alerts about outgoing or incoming cargo and passengers from internal and external intelligence reports.