A Nigerian national was on Thursday, June 2, arrested by detectives in Mtwapa, Kilifi during a multi-agency sting operation targetting drug traffickers in Mombasa and Kilifi counties.
The narcotics detectives recovered consignments of cocaine and heroin of estimated street value of Ksh100 million and stashes of cash of unknown amounts.
Detectives, acting on a tip-off from members of the public as well as intelligence from the National Intelligence Service (NIS), cornered the foreigner in their bid to flush out traffickers operating in the country's coastal region.
The suspect was taken to the Mariakani Police Station for questioning even as detectives pursue other leads to establish the source of the drugs.
11 other suspects of Kenyan nationality were also nabbed in the raids.
According to police reports, the foreigner was part of a drug-trafficking syndicate that is well-connected and perceived as 'untouchable' and that has been distributing narcotics in Mombasa and Kilifi.
Police noted that the gang has been tormenting residents of the two counties and that their illegal trade was behind the spike in numbers of small terror gangs that have been wrecking havoc in Mombasa and its environs.
The syndicate is said to be operating from a house in Utange, Mombasa, that is owned by a lady who was arrested with bundles of cocaine that was stashed in multiple suitcases.
US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) - which has been in pursuit of two suspects wanted for drugs and ivory trafficking - has been roped in the matter.
The arrest comes barely a week after Mansur Mohammed Surur, an accomplice of the two suspects wanted in America, pleaded guilty to conspiring to trafficking rhino horns and elephant ivory, which involved poaching over 35 rhinoceros and 100 elephants.
On May 31, Badru Abdul Saleh, whom the US placed a Ksh116 million bounty on his head, was arrested trying to flee the country to the neighbouring Somalia.
Saleh's arrest was confirmed by the Charge De Affairs at the US Embassy in Nairobi, Eric Kneedler, who revealed that he was nabbed by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) after he was spotted by a whistle-blower.
“We welcome the news that Aziz Saleh has been captured. This would not have been possible without the public’s support," the envoy stated.
