Houses flattened as authorities flush out peddlers from Shimanzi den
Authorities in Mombasa Thursday conducted a multi-agency operation to flush out drug peddlers at the Shimanzi Railway godowns in their renewed efforts to fight drug trafficking menace in the port city.
Authorities say in the wake of rising insecurity incidences within Mombasa’s Old Town, Shimanzi area has been labelled a criminal hideout for the perpetrators.
Law enforcers also suspect the place to be a notorious hideout for drug peddlers.A number of street families had converted the area to an illegal drug peddling zone therefore compromising the security of residents.
Mombasa sub-county commissioner Charles Monari led the multi agency operation that also saw over 50 families which had colonised the abandoned godowns flushed out.
Through the help of officers from the Prisons Department, they burnt into ashes the makeshift dwellings to ensure nobody returns to live there.
"The residents have complained about their security because when muggers steal from them they run to this hideout. We are flushing out everyone who is living here, we want them to go away,” said Monari.
He said police trailed some of the criminals and established that they had converted the area to a home. Police link some of the crimes within Old Town to the criminals who hide in the area.
“Recently people invaded traders at old town and when they commit that crime their run to this place. We are not going to leave any stone unturned. We are going to flush them out completely,” he added.
Monari wants the godowns destroyed, saying “we are calling a meeting next week on Wednesday to make sure they have taken to account their premises, if they can't we will ask the government to take over this place.”
The government official urged the area residents to work closely with the government in naming drug barons in the area promising that action will be taken against them immediately.
