Eight Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers have been arraigned at the Mombasa Law Courts and charged with trafficking narcotic drugs, in a high-value case involving methamphetamine with an estimated value of more than Sh192 million.
The suspects appeared before the Senior Principal Magistrate Gladys Olimo, where they all denied the charges. They included Duke Nyamwaya Nyarige, Juma Mwinyifaki Juma, Michael Peter Kariuki, Elijah Mbogo, James Ekiru, Abdulrehman Salad Jara, Abdirahman Abdi Kuno and Peter Kipng’etich Tonui.
According to the prosecution, the accused, were found possessing varying quantities of methamphetamine, with the charges reflecting an alleged organized and coordinated drug trafficking network.
The prosecutors told the court that the quantities involved pointed to what they described as a scale and sophistication of the drug trafficking operation.
Juma Mwinyifaki Juma was charged with trafficking 2,601 grams of methamphetamine valued at Sh20.8 million, Peter Kipng’etich Tonui and Mustafa Salim Johari were charged with conspiracy to traffic narcotic drugs.
Duke Nyamwaya Nyarige, Dinah Moraa Obwocha and Elijah Mbogo face multiple counts, including conspiracy to traffic 14,321 grams of methamphetamine valued at Sh114.6 million. The trio were additionally charged with trafficking consignments of 5,380 grams with a value of Sh43 million and 8,941 grams valued at Sh71.5 million.
It is reported that they stored the drugs in residential premises.
James Ekiru and Abdirahman Abdi Kuno were charged with conspiracy to traffic 1,319 grams of narcotic drugs valued at Sh10.5 million and face separate counts of trafficking by storing the drugs in a house.
Michael Peter Kariuki and Abdulrehman Salad Jara were charged with conspiracy to traffic 2,535 grams of methamphetamine valued at approximately Sh20.2 million.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) opposed the accused persons’ bond application, citing the seriousness of the offence.
Brenda Oganda, the Principal Prosecution Counsel told the court that the proposed bond terms did not adequately reflect the gravity of the case. She further warned of a high risk of interference with witnesses and potential compromise of the ongoing investigations.
The court is expected to rule on the bond application matter on Thursday.
