Two suspected drug dealers were charged
in Mombasa on Tuesday
with trafficking 15 kgs of heroin worth Sh47 million.
Swaleh Yusuf and his wife Asma Abdalla were among nine suspects
arrested by anti-narcotic detectives in an operation during which
Sh18.5 million cash was also seized. Police had estimated that the heroin was worth Sh170 million.
Others who were apprehended in the operation in Bamburi and Mtwapa
were identified as Rashid Athman, Athman Salim and Farida Omar.
The couple, who
were in a list of suspects wanted by police, were charged with
trafficking
narcotics.
A sworn affidavit stated that Yusuf had been supplying narcotics in the county.
While opposing his release on bond, the ODPP noted he was sentenced to life in prison in 2010 for the same offence.
The affidavit states that he successfully appealed the sentence under case number 848/2010 at a Mombasa court and was acquitted for lack of evidence.
Ahmed was also charged at Mombasa law courts in
2011 and 2013 with
trafficking drugs, but he won the cases.
“The accused is a high profile trafficker who has a wide operative network. His release will likely interfere with the investigation," said principal prosecuting counsel Jami Yamin.
Yamin added that Ahmed was a
major distributor whose trade had affected thousands of people in Mombasa.
But the suspects' lawyer said his client deserved release on bond.
The man and his wife
denied the charges
before Shanzu principal magistrate Diana Mochache and were
remanded for eight days pending determination of their bond application.
Mochache will make the ruling on
March 2.
The court will also determine whether four other suspected drug dealers will be detained for 21 days.
Nabil Loo, Bakari Kali, Lilian Bernard and Stephen Mangi’ra are facing charges of drug trafficking and money laundering.
Four vehicles were also found outside their apartment during their arrest.
The DPP wanted them detained longer for police to complete investigations and analyse the drugs they found.
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