WANLAWEYN — Security forces from the South West State operating in Wanlaweyn district have seized hashish, alcohol and other narcotics smuggled into the area in a planned operation, according to a statement from the Somali National News Agency.
The operation was linked to efforts to strengthen security and combat narcotics, which officials said can contribute to instability.
Deputy District Commissioner of Wanlaweyn, Ismail Roble Ali, and Deputy Police Commander Abdirazaq Barre Mohamed, who spoke about the operation, said authorities would take action against groups trafficking narcotics.
The officials called on Somali citizens to assist in efforts to tackle narcotics and the criminal groups that trade in them.
The Broader Context
The Wanlaweyn operation is part of wider efforts to curb narcotics and criminal activity in southern regions. The Federal Government and Federal Member States have repeatedly stated that narcotics contribute to instability and inter-communal conflict.
In recent years, operations targeting narcotics have become a regular feature of security strategy in Lower Shabelle and other southern regions, as authorities seek to disrupt the networks that profit from the trade.
The seizure in Wanlaweyn echoes similar operations elsewhere in Somalia. In September 2025, Somali police publicly destroyed one of the country’s largest seized drug consignments near Gubadley, on the outskirts of Mogadishu, following a major bust linked to a businessman accused of diverting public funds to import narcotics, as reported in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the drug destruction.
In August 2025, authorities at Mogadishu’s Adan Abdulle International Airport seized 189 boxes of illicit drugs, including banned pills and other harmful pharmaceutical substances, in one of the largest drug busts in recent years at the country’s main international gateway, as detailed in FTL Somalia’s report on the airport seizure.
More recently, in December 2024, police in Mogadishu arrested four individuals accused of trafficking hashish in the capital’s Gubadleey district, seizing substantial quantities of the drug along with an AK47 rifle, as reported in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the arrests.
Critical Note
The seizure of narcotics in Wanlaweyn demonstrates ongoing efforts to curb the drug trade, but the key question is whether such operations are sustained and produce lasting results, or whether they are sporadic and uncoordinated. Narcotics trafficking is a deeply entrenched problem that requires a comprehensive strategy encompassing border control, anti-corruption measures, and alternative economic opportunities for local communities.
The pattern of drug seizures across Somalia, from Mogadishu’s airport to Lido Beach to Wanlaweyn, suggests that trafficking networks are active and adaptive. Each bust removes a consignment, but the networks themselves often remain intact. Without addressing the corruption that enables the trade and the economic drivers that make it attractive, seizures risk being temporary disruptions rather than permanent solutions.
It is also important to ensure that such operations are based on reliable intelligence and do not harm innocent civilians. If operations are based on unverified suspicion, they risk undermining community trust in security forces, which is essential for effective law enforcement.
