By Emmaculate Lesa
A Nairobi court has granted the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) permission to detain a Ugandan woman extradited to Kenya over suspected drug trafficking offences.
Principal Magistrate Irene Gichobi, sitting at the JKIA Law Courts, allowed the DPP’s application to hold Hellen Ikareut in custody pending completion of investigations under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act.
“Prosecuting Counsel John Tago told court officers from the Anti-Narcotics Unit intercepted a suspicious shipment on May 18, 2023, at the DHL cargo shed at JKIA,” stated the ODPP.
According to the ODPP, the consignment, allegedly sent by Ikareut from Kitengela, was destined for Chris Kagawa Manana Godaibiya in Bahrain. It contained 25 shower curtains concealing a greenish plant material, which, upon verification, tested positive for narcotics.
Following the discovery, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Anti-Narcotics Unit seized the package as evidence. Preliminary investigations revealed that Ikareut fled to Uganda soon after the shipment. The DPP then sought assistance from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to extradite her.
“Ikareut was apprehended at the immigration area of Terminal IE at JKIA upon arrival and was formally rearrested,” ODPP added.
Magistrate Gichobi directed that the suspect be detained at Embakasi Police Station for three working days to allow a government chemist to weigh and analyse the narcotics in her presence. The court further ordered that statements from key witnesses be recorded within the same period.
The case will be mentioned on August 11 for further directions.