Two Men Sentenced to 24 Years and Ksh50 Million Fine for Major Cannabis Trafficking Operation
Two individuals have been sentenced to 24 years in prison and fined Ksh50 million each for trafficking cannabis valued at over Ksh4 million, following a high-profile legal case that lasted a year.
The convictions occurred at the JKIA Law Courts after the men were arrested last May during a dramatic police operation on the Nairobi-Naivasha highway.
The suspects were intercepted by Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) officers near the Flyover area while driving a white Toyota Passo.
A standard search turned into a major drug bust when seven sacks and eight packages containing dry plant material were discovered in the vehicle.
The substance was identified as cannabis sativa, weighing an impressive 161.75 kg with an estimated street value of Ksh4,852,500.
Their arrest triggered a series of events leading to their recent conviction. Post-seizure, the men were taken to the DCI headquarters, where the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) led the investigation.
Following evidence collection and analysis, they were charged at the JKIA Law Courts on May 29, 2023. The evidence presented in court included testimonies from six witnesses, which led to their conviction.
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Besides the 24-year prison term, each convict was fined Ksh50 million, with an additional one year imprisonment if the fines were not paid.
While the 24-year sentence is substantial, it is less severe compared to a harsher judgment from March of the previous year.
In that case, another drug dealer received a 50-year prison term for trafficking 6.7 kilograms of bhang worth Ksh201,300.
The individual had admitted to trafficking 122 rolls of bhang in Kilifi South Sub-County, leading to a swift sentence from Magistrate Leah Kisabuli.
This earlier case, like the recent conviction, underscores the government’s stringent approach to drug-related offenses.
Kenyan law prohibits cannabis use for both medical and recreational purposes, with severe penalties for possession or sale, including up to 20 years in prison and fines reaching Ksh1 million or three times the market value of the cannabis involved.
Two Men Sentenced to 24 Years and Ksh50 Million Fine for Major Cannabis Trafficking Operation
