Kenyan police nab 12 key drug barons in Mombasa

The Kenyan police said on Friday that they have arrested 12 key drug barons during a major security operation conducted in the coastal city of Mombasa.

Head of Anti Narcotic Police Unit Hamis Massa said four foreigners were among those arrested and a haul of drugs was seized in joint raid by the detectives.

The four suspects, including three Italians and a Mauritian are likely to deport from the country on Friday. Sample of heroin and cocaine nabbed during the operation were sent to the Government Chemist for further analysis.

Massa said that the wanted drug baron identified as Stephen Bosire is among the eight Kenyans arrested in the operation. He allegedly supplies large amounts of narcotics from neighboring countries, namely Seychelles and Tanzania.

"We are holding the 12 suspects who are assisting us in the investigation before they are arraigned in court to face charges of drug trafficking. Our officers are also inspecting some of the drugs seized during the operation," said Massa.

The suspects are believed to be local and international drug lords. On Feb. 17, Bosire's accomplice Musa Kibiringe was arrested after he presented himself to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (CID) offices in Mombasa.

The arrest came days after anti-narcotics detectives nabbed five most wanted drug barons in Mombasa amid a government operation to eliminate them.

Swaleh Yusuf Ahmed was apprehended alongside his wife Asmah Abdallah, and other accomplices: Rashid Athman, Athman Salim and Farida Omar.

All the suspects were scheduled to be charged in court on Friday.

Kenya has lately sustained a crackdown on drug trafficking activities since the January extradition of the notorious Akasha brothers -- Baktash and Ibrahim -- to the U.S. where they are facing charges alongside Vicky Goswami (Indian) and Hussein Gulam (Pakistani).

President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed an immediate crackdown on drugs, dealers and their dens at the Coast. Endit