US court issues warrants against four Kenyan drug suspects

Lawyer Cliff Ombeta (right) with Baktash Akasha Abdalla (left) and other suspects being held by police over packets of heroin seized in Nairobi. A court in the United States has issued warrants of arrest against four suspects, including Mr Abdalla. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NATION MEDIA GROUP

A court in the United States has issued warrants of arrest against four suspects, among them a son of slain suspected drug baron Ibrahim Akasha, over charges of conspiracy to import narcotics.

This was revealed in a Mombasa court in an application filed by the state seeking an order for provisional warrants of arrest against the four.

Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Alexander Muteti is seeking an order to have Mr Baktash Akasha Abdalla, Vijaygiri Anandgiri, Ibrahim Akasha Abdalla and Gulam Hussein held in police custody for 21 days to allow the state to comply with formal extradition procedures.

CONSPIRACY TO IMPORT HEROIN

According to the application by Mr Muteti, US law enforcement agents working with their Kenyan counterparts have investigated the suspects for various offences, among them conspiracy to import heroin.

Mr Muteti said Kenyan investigators are satisfied that there are sufficient grounds to seek provisional warrants of arrest pending the receipt of the original warrants from the US government as required by law.

The hearing of the application continues.