A Lamu court has fined a man Sh50 million or, in default, sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment after finding him guilty of trafficking narcotic drugs.
Hon. Flavian Mulama, the resident Magistrate convicted Abdulrahman Issa of trafficking cannabis sativa and diazepam by storing the drugs, contrary to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act.
The court heard that Issa committed the offence jointly with others not before the court on March 12, 2026, at Tchundwa Village in Lamu East Sub-county, Lamu County.
According to the prosecution, police officers on patrol intercepted the accused while he was carrying an orange bag. A search of the bag led to the recovery of 250 grams of cannabis sativa, 10 diazepam tablets, a roll of partially smoked bhang, a razor blade, a metallic spoon, a transparent side plate, a broken tile, and a matchbox.
In his defence, Issa denied possessing the narcotics, claiming that the exhibits were recovered from his father’s house after he had been arrested alongside two other men. However, the court noted that he did not call either of the alleged co-arrestees to testify in support of his claims.
In delivering the judgment, Hon. Mulama held that the prosecution had presented credible, consistent, and corroborated evidence through three witnesses, supported by exhibits produced before the court.
“The prosecution’s evidence outweighs that of the defence,” the magistrate ruled, adding that the charge had been proved to the required legal standard.
The court further found that the accused’s defence consisted of mere denials unsupported by independent evidence. Hon. Mulama also observed that the circumstances surrounding the arrest pointed to drug trafficking rather than personal use, noting that the recovered razor blade, metallic spoon, transparent side plate, and partially smoked bhang were consistent with the preparation and repackaging of drugs for distribution.
“He consequently convicted the accused under Section 215 of the Criminal Procedure Code for trafficking narcotic drugs by storing them,” the judgment stated before sentencing Issa to pay a Sh50 million fine or serve 10 years in prison.
The court also informed the convict of his right to appeal the conviction and sentence within 14 days.
