A major victory in the war against narcotics was marked in Mombasa as authorities incinerated over 99Kg of heroin and 997g of cocaine at Bamburi Cement factory.

The destruction exercise, carried out under tight security, was witnessed by senior court officials, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Government Chemist and top-ranking police command in the region.

The drugs, valued at a staggering Ksh297 million, were seized in a series of high-profile anti-narcotics operations in the coastal region, where authorities have been cracking down on international and local drug syndicates.

High-Stakes Cases Behind the Burn

The incinerated drugs were tied to several landmark convictions, including a 2018 case involving Fatuma Ahmed Ali and Swaleh Yusuf Ahmed. The two were arrested with 91.7kg of heroin and 997g of cocaine in their Kikambala Estate home in Kilifi County.

However, Swaleh Yusuf passed away during trial, leaving Fatuma to face the full force of the law.

On November 19, 2024, the court delivered a harsh ruling, sentencing Fatuma Ahmed Ali to 40 years in prison and slapping her with a hefty Ksh 825.6 million fine, a warning shot to traffickers operating in Kenya’s coastal region.

In another case, Maimuna Jumanne Amir was arrested at Moi International Airport, Mombasa on March 14, 2021, with 5.8kg of heroin worth Ksh 17.6 million. She was later convicted and sentenced to 30 years in jail.

More Drug Lords Face the Law

Authorities have also successfully prosecuted other traffickers, including Juma Mwanyota and Abdulmajid Msallam Timamu, who were sentenced to 13 and 15 years in prison, respectively.

Meanwhile, police and anti-narcotics detectives have intensified their efforts, with more trafficking cases at advanced stages of prosecution.

Law enforcement agencies have vowed to tighten their grip on drug smuggling routes, especially in the coastal region, a known hotspot for illicit trade.