Fatuma Ahmed Ali, a Mombasa-based woman has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after she was found guilty of trafficking heroin worth KSh275 million.

Fatuma, who was jointly charged with her late husband, notorious drug baron Swaleh Yusuf Ahmed, alias Kandereni, was additionally fined KSh825,642,000 in a judgement made by Mombasa Principal Magistrate Martin Rabera and delivered by Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo.

The Prosecution, led by Senior Prosecution Counsel Barbara Sombo, told the court that on September 20, 2018 at Kikambala Housing Estate in Kilifi County, the two accused, with others not before the court, trafficked narcotic, drugs namely heroin weighing 91,738 grams and valued at over KSh275 million.

The court heard that the duo concealed the drugs in two brown suitcases and a gunny bag stored within a residential house. This act was in direct contravention of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act.

Mombasa drug baron’s death

Swaleh Yusuf Ahmed faced a second charge of trafficking in psychotropic substances. However, the court dropped charges against him after he died under mysterious circumstances.

According to her mother Jauria Yusuf Ahmed, armed men who identified themselves as police officers had on March 8, 2024 at 8 pm.

Jauria says the said men ransacked the house before frog-marching Swaleh who had attended court two days earlier to face charges of trafficking heroin and cocaine worth over KSh275 million.

Swaleh’s body was discovered at Kiruwitu near Vipingo in Kilifi, nine days after the alleged abduction.

Prior to his death, the court had placed him on his defence after the prosecution established a prima facie case against him.

Mombasa court ruling

While making a submission on sentencing, the prosecution counsel, Ms. Barbara Sombo, opposed the accused receiving a non-custodial sentence, which the accused had requested through her advocate, Mr Wangila.

Ms. Sombo further submitted that the court should consider the weight of narcotics seized in the accused house, to wit 91,735 grams, which if the drugs would have reached the market, would have ruined 91,000 lives if the same was to be sold in 1 gram.

In delivering the judgment, Rabera noted that the prosecution had provided compelling evidence, including testimonies from officers who had conducted the raid at the accused’s residence.

The officers gave a detailed account of how the exhibits were recovered in the presence of the public, with no indication that the items were planted.

“There is no evidential gap to suggest that the exhibits were tampered with or planted; having reviewed and analyzed all the evidence, I find the charges against the accused proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The accused is hereby convicted as charged,” Magistrate Rabera ruled.