East Africa could turn into a passage for smuggling humans and drugs, according to Beatrice Kiraso, deputy director general for political affairs of the East Africa Annual Conference (EAAC). Kiraso called for integration among East African states and taking regional measures to prevent trafficking of humans and drugs. She stressed that success in confronting such threats would pave the way for more investments and for achieving economic development. Tanzanian newspaper The Citizen quoted Kiraso as saying, “drug and human trafficking impedes our efforts to attract more investments and tourists to the region. East Africa became a good passage for such illegal activities.” She urged the region to use all abilities to curb the threat. She called to establish a regional center for forensics to ensure serious criminal investigations with people involved in such illegal activities. Kiraso said German experts expressed readiness to help the region in this issue. She called for police chiefs of regional states to conclude agreements to help each other in confronting these activities and to exchange prisoners.
