Akasha sons extradited to the U.S on suspicion of heroin smuggling

dennis kibet

January 31, 2017 5:57 PM

The extradition of Baktash Akasha, his brother Ibrahim is a major blow to East Africa's drug cartels.

From left, Ibrahim Akasha Abdalla, Gulam Hussein, Vijaygiri Anandgiri Goswami and Baktash Akasha Abdalla follow proceedings in their case on December 13, 2016.

Two sons of slain drug baron Ibrahim Akasha along with two other foreigners have been extradited to the United States on suspicion of heroin smuggling.

According to Reuters, the extradition of Baktash Akasha, his brother Ibrahim is a major blow to East Africa's drug cartels.

The men were arrested two years ago, in a U.S-led sting operation.

They were out on bail from charges brought in a Kenyan court when senior police officers from the counter-terrorism and anti-narcotics units in Nairobi arrested them in the coastal city of Mombasa on Sunday.

Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigations were said to be involved in the operation that led to the arrest of the four at the weekend in Nyali, Mombasa.

Senior detectives from the US Drug Enforcement Agency and Kenya’s anti-narcotics agency were also involved in the operation.

The four were to appear in court on Monday but their lawyer, Cliff Ombeta, said his clients had been arrested.

Drug trade

Mr Ombeta moved to the High Court to have his clients produced in court, saying they were being held incommunicado and that the detention was an abuse of their basic human rights.

The four men were flown to the United States as law enforcement officials and investigator involved in the case declined to give further details.

According to U.S. Embassy cables published by WikiLeaks, the Akasha family has been involved in the drug trade for years.

As well as the heroin charges, U.S. prosecutors have charged the Akashas and Goswami with conspiracy to import methamphetamines, according to the indictment.

However, their Lawyer Ombeta said his clients were innocent of any wrongdoing.

dennis kibet