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Kenya to extradite four drug barons

Xinhua, January 31, 2017 Adjust font size:

The Kenyan government on Monday night extradited four drug barons wanted in the United States for drug trafficking charges.

Baktash Akasha, his brother Ibrahim Akasha and two foreigners -- India's Vicky Goswami and Pakistan's Hussein Gulam -- were deported to the United States through Nairobi.

American FBI was involved in the highly secret operation of arresting the four in the coastal city of Mombasa. Senior detectives from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agent (DEA) and Kenya's Anti-Narcotics Unit were also involved in operation.

Head of Kenya's Anti-Narcotics Unit Hamisi Massa is among senior Kenyan officials accompanying the U.S. agents.

"They were deported on Monday night in private charter and we expect them to be arraigned in court in the U.S. to stand trial for smuggling of drug," a senior anti narcotic officer said on Tuesday.

The four drug barons were arrested in dramatic sting operation by U.S. anti-narcotics agents posing as Colombian drug dealers in 2014.

They are accused of conspiring to ship at least 98 kilograms of high-grade heroin and methamphetamine to the U.S. through Kenya.

Their lawyer Cliff Ombeta has moved to court demanding the four to be produced in court accusing police of abducting his clients.

On Monday, Mombasa High Court has summoned CID Director Ndegwa Muhoro and Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet over arrest of the four drug trafficking suspects.

The judge has directed the four to be produced before court on Wednesday after the defence lawyer filed Habeas Corpus before High Court on Monday. Enditem