Tobiko gets nod to destroy heroin seized at port

What you need to know:

  • The court was informed that, on different days between July 2 and 18, the accused were found trafficking 377kg of heroin estimated to be worth Sh1.3 billion.
  • It is alleged that the accused were trafficking the drugs through cargo ship mv Amin Darya also known as Al Noor.

The prosecution has been given the go-ahead to destroy 377kg of heroin impounded at the Port of Mombasa last month.

A Mombasa court allowed an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Keriako Tobiko, that an order be issued for the destruction of the drugs due to storage and security concerns.

State counsel Nicholas Mutuku had also asked the court to allow the hearing of the case in which 12 people are charged with trafficking drugs to proceed.
Mr Mutuku wanted four witnesses to testify before the destruction of the drugs.

TAKING PRECAUTION

“Putting in mind the security situation in our country, and the drugs in question, anything can happen and the drugs might disappear, and it is important that we avoid such a misfortune,” Mr Mutuku said.

The four allowed to testify are the government analyst and three officers who were present during the seizure of the drugs.

The government analyst informed the court that after examination, he found the drugs to be heroin.

The accused are a Mombasa politician, Mr Maur Bwanamaka (below left), two businessmen and nine Pakistanis.

The court was informed that, on different days between July 2 and 18, the accused were found trafficking 377kg of heroin estimated to be worth Sh1.3 billion.

The court was also informed that the suspects were found trafficking 33,200 litres of heroin of an undetermined value.

It is alleged that the accused were trafficking the drugs through cargo ship mv Amin Darya also known as Al Noor.

The accused have denied the charges. Chief magistrate Maxwell Gicheru denied them bond.

The nine Pakistanis are remanded at the Shimo la Tewa prison while their co-accused are held at the Port Police Station.
The hearing continues on September 2.