Two General Service Unit (GSU) officers were, on Thursday, July 6, ordered to pay Ksh48 million and serve 30 years or face 35 years in jail after they were found guilty of drug trafficking.
A chief magistrate court in Isiolo County directed the GSU officers to pay Ksh24 million each and spend 30 years in jail for moving 598 kilogrammes of narcotics to an undisclosed location.
The duo was nabbed in 2020 after police mounted an operation and were later charged with drug trafficking at the Isiolo Magistrates Court.
"Two General Service Officers who had been charged for the offence of trafficking in narcotic drugs (598 kilogrammes) were sentenced before the chief magistrate's court Isiolo as follows," Isiolo Police station stated in a statement.
"Each accused person was fined Ksh24 million and also to serve 30 years imprisonment. In default to pay the fine, each to serve additional five years of imprisonment."
The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act of Kenya (Cap 245) prohibits the trafficking of outlawed drugs.
The court also found the duo violated Police Officers Ethics Act which prohibits law enforcement officers from engaging in outlawed activities.
On Monday, July 3, a Court in Mariakani, Kilifi County, charged a man found in possession of 156 kilogrammes of elephant tusks worth Ksh15.6 million contrary to the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013.
The accused was arrested while using a motorcycle to ferry the tusks concealed in a nylon sack. The prosecution further charged the suspect with failing to comply with a lawful requirement and dealing with a wildlife trophy without a permit.
"The offences were alleged to have been committed jointly with another not before the court on July 1, 2023, at around 1345hrs.
"The accused pleaded not guilty to all the counts upon which the court directed that he be detained pending a pre-bail report. The matter will be mentioned on July 17 2023," the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions stated.
In September 2022, the country extradited Abdi Husein, to the United States to face criminal charges involving drug trafficking and wildlife poaching.
The suspect was accused of illegal poaching of more than 35 rhinoceros and more than 100 elephants.
"Abdi Husein was extradited following orders issued by Hon Roseline Aganyo, at the Milimani Chief Magistrate’s Court on August 31, 2022, pursuant to provisions of Section 8 of the extradition act," Directorate of Criminal Investigations stated.
