Seven suspects including two foreigners are cooling their heels in police custody over the offence of drug trafficking.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the suspects were arrested following the recovery of a consignment of cocaine weighing 24 kilograms and ketamine weighing over 1,200 kilograms at a house in Ngara, Nairobi, last weekend.
The drugs valued at approximately Ksh121 million were recovered by anti-narcotics detectives based at DCI headquarters following intelligence leads.
The suspects are Pakistan national Muhammed Salem Mohamed Hussein, Khan Mohamed Ashraf Changu (Indian) and Kenyans Wesley Silvanus Adwenya, Paul Kivuli Sote, Railings Innocent Ogondi, Moses Liyai Imbwanga and Latif Mohamed Dawood.
DCI said the recovery of the drugs was preceded by the interception of a motor vehicle registration number KDE 868N, Nissan X-trail along Wangari Maathai Road on June 17.
“The vehicle with two occupants was headed to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport carrying approximately 23 cartons containing compressed packages of whitish powdery substances labelled ‘Boss Head’, suspected to be narcotic drugs,” DCI said in a statement on Friday, June 23.
A further search at the suspects’ residence in Ngara led to the recovery of 46 drums stashed with whitish powdery substances packed in clear polythene bags.
“In addition, fifty-five (55) packages in clear polythene bags containing similar powdery substances suspected to be Narcotic drugs were also recovered and a further 133 sacks each weighing 25kgs marked sodium bicarbonate,” DCI added.
DCI said weighing and sampling of the seized substances was then conducted at the DCI National Forensic Laboratory, in accordance with the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act No. 4 of 1994.
“The exercise was presided over by a Government analyst from the Government Chemist, assisted by experts based at the forensic lab,” DCI said.
The suspects will be arraigned in court on Monday, June 26, 2023, at the JKIA Chief Magistrate’s Court.
Meanwhile, a Thai national identified as Netima Ngamsap was arrested on Thursday at JKIA’s terminal 1C, moments before she boarded a flight to Singapore, carrying 3Kgs of cocaine.
The consignment, carefully concealed in a false bottom of the woman’s suitcase, was detected by anti-narcotics detectives based at the airport
The suspect was detained and is currently assisting police with investigations.
