DCI Clarifies Reports of Mexican Drug Cartel Activities in Kenya
The DCI has addressed reports about a Mexican cartel operating a meth lab in Namanga, confirming that the operation was interrupted before launch. Multiple arrests have been made, including suspects linked to international drug trafficking networks. The investigations continue to uncover extensive connections and the involvement of various individuals from different countries.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has responded to reports regarding the presence of a Mexican cartel operating a methamphetamine laboratory in Namanga, Kenya. This clarification follows the U.S. Department of State’s recent disclosures that a meth lab was functional in Kenya until September 2024. DCI stated that attempts were made by individuals, including Kenyans and Nigerians, to establish the lab but were thwarted by their Anti-Narcotics Unit before any operations commenced.
The DCI clarified that “the drug cartel did not succeed in operationalizing their illegal activities in the country and that no member or members of the criminal ring have been deported from the country for trial elsewhere.” The agency detailed that on September 12, 2024, a raid was conducted on a suspected drug manufacturing facility near Nairobi, based on a tip-off, resulting in the discovery of significant evidence including laboratory equipment and chemicals.
During the raid, authorities found two structures that indicated the site was intended for drug production, which included laboratory apparatus, chemicals, and living quarters. Additionally, two notebooks containing lab diagrams and a mobile phone belonging to a Mexican suspect were seized. A concerted manhunt was initiated to apprehend those involved.
The first suspect, a Kenyan woman, was arrested on September 16, 2024, suspected of overseeing the construction of the facility alongside an accomplice from Nigeria. Documents linking her to activities related to the operation were collected during her detention. Subsequent arrests included a Nigerian suspect apprehended on October 1, 2024, and another brother arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) two days later, who was identified as the mastermind.
The latter suspect had extensive business ties across Nigeria, Gabon, South Africa, and China, and connections to a South American drug cartel. A fourth individual, a former investigator in the Mexican police, was apprehended at JKIA while returning home, believed to have been recruited for his expertise in meth production. Two additional Kenyans were also arrested, tallying six individuals charged in total, with two pharmacies implicated in the chemical procurement process. This situation is highlighted as indicative of a broader international drug trafficking network spanning multiple countries.
The DCI’s investigation into the Mexican drug cartel aims to neutralize a significant threat posed by international drug trafficking operations in Kenya. The swift actions leading to multiple arrests illustrate the effectiveness of the DCI in combating drug-related crimes. With collaboration across borders essential in tackling such networks, authorities remain committed to dismantling these criminal operations and ensuring safety.
Original Source: www.kenyans.co.ke
