A pick-up truck carrying miraa drives past a police road block. Twenty five cargo planes carrying miraa left for Somalia on September 15, 2016 after flights to Aden Adde International Airport resumed on Wednesday. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Twenty five cargo planes carrying miraa have left for Somalia after flights to Aden Adde International Airport resumed on Wednesday.
The spokesman of Nyambene Miraa Traders Association (Nyamita) Kimathi Munjuri said that business was back to normal after a one-week suspension.
On Wednesday, only two cargo planes went to Mogadishu due to lack of sufficient supplies.
“The 25 planes, all full to capacity left for Somalia today (Thursday). The demand was very high following the suspension,” Mr Munjuri said.
He, however, said miraa traders were waiting for answers on concerns emerging from the recent suspension of flights by the Somali government.
Mr Munjuri had earlier said that miraa traders lost about Sh500 million in the seven days that cargo flights to Mogadishu were suspended.
“Only five planes have been operating when the Somalia government cancelled cargo flights last week. For the first three days, there were no significant flights as traders were reorganising themselves,” Mr Munjuri said.
In the last one week, cargo planes ferrying miraa have been using Galcaio, Las Anod, Bassaso and Baladweyne airports in Somalia.
More than 15 cargo planes deliver the stimulant to Mogadishu every day.
