The customs officers of Ethiopian Customs Commission today seized 33 quintals of cannabis at Tulu Dimtu checkpoint at the outskirt of Addis Ababa.
The smugglers were trying to bring the cannabis in to the capital, Addis Ababa using an Isuzu FSR truck, according to the ruling party owned media FBC. The report indicated that the driver has been detained and is under investigation.
Anyone involved in contraband including, smuggling into and out of the country any item knowingly or unknowingly, will get 5 to 10 years of imprisonment, as well as may face penalty of 50,000 to 200,000 birr ($1,800 to $3,600), according to Ethiopian Criminal Law. It is recalled that recently the Ethiopian Customs officers have also captured 1,280 kilograms of cannabis.
In a related development on Saturday and Sunday, the Addis Ababa Police Commission has detained several people suspected of committing crimes and 260 unregistered vehicles used by the criminals. The detainees were involved in illegal arms and drugs trafficking and robberies, according to the information from official social media page of the Addis Ababa Police.