A Mombasa court on Tuesday April 22, 2026, charged a 35-year-old Nigerian national with trafficking heroin valued at close to Ksh 10 million.

The Nigerian, identified as Emmanuel Chimezie Okwara, was charged with trafficking in narcotic drugs, contrary to Section 4(a)(ii) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act No. 4 of 1994.

Senior Resident Magistrate Gladys Ollimo heard that Okwara was found trafficking by storing narcotic drugs, including heroin weighing 3,265.0 grams, with a market value of Ksh 9,795,000.

It is reported that he committed the offence on April 15, 2026, in the Kadzandani area of Kisauni Sub-County within Mombasa County.

“He was also charged with a second count of being unlawfully present in Kenya, contrary to Section 53(1)(j), as read with Section 53(2) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011,” ODPP said.

The charge sheet states that, being a Nigerian citizen and not an exempted person, Okwara was found unlawfully present in the country without a valid passport or permit.

He however pleaded not guilty to both counts, with the Director of Public Prosecutions opposing his application to be released on reasonable bond terms.

The DPP told the court that there is a high likelihood that the foreign national would abscond trial, given the severity of the charges he is facing.

“He is a flight risk with no permanent roots; hence, this court should not admit him to bond,” the prosecution stated.

The prosecution further argued that the accused has been residing unlawfully in Kenya, with his lawyer confirming in court that he has been living in Bamburi, Mombasa, since 2022.

The prosecution also submitted that the accused failed to provide any documentation to prove his legal presence in the country.

The DPP urged the court to take judicial notice of the rampant cases of drug trafficking in the country and deny him bond. The court is expected to deliver its ruling on today.