Police impound bhang haul from stalled car

Mombasa,

Friday, September 15, 2023

KNA by Sadik Hassan

The Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Mombasa is seeking three weeks to detain two men to expedite investigations on the owner of a Sh9.4 million bhang haul found in an abandoned Prado TX in Kanamai, Kilifi County.

The said Toyota Land Cruiser used to transport the bhang landed into a ditch in a self-involved accident on the 4th of September afternoon.

According to detectives from the DCI, the bhang was stashed in seven gunny bags ferried along the Kaloleni - Mavueni route in the vehicle, which at the time bore registration number KDC 300L.

The vehicle whose right rear tyre was punctured is believed to have been at top speed when it veered off the road and plunged into the ditch, forcing the occupants to flee from the scene.

According to the police files, “Upon search, registration plates KBQ 580K, KBZ 528N, KDA 639A & KDC 947C (the latter akin to parastatal vehicles) were found,” police said in a report.

In their application before Senior Principal Magistrate Yusuf Shikanda, the DCI said they had dusted for fingerprints inside the Prado to establish the owner.

The DCI applied to detain Mughanga Ruwange and Dennis Shere over suspicion that they are involved with the owner of the Prado TX that was ferrying the multi-million bhang.

The two suspects were arrested at Kanamai, Majengo, Kilifi County on September 12 in their homestead.

However, Ruwange and Shere opposed detention for 21 days pending investigations through their lawyers Julius Ireri and George Anango. 

Julius Ireri told the courts that police have no evidence linking them to the Sh9.4 million bhang that was nabbed inside the abandoned Prado.

Ireri said the narcotics worth Sh9.4 million found in the Prado remained an allegation that could not be substantiated in court since the two have not been charged yet.

He further said there has been no evidence to show how they would interfere with investigations or any proof that they have been in contact with any person in this matter. 

State Prosecutor Peris Ogega applied for the detention of the two suspects for three weeks to allow police to complete investigations.

Ogega also applied for leave to amend the defective charge sheet.

She further stated the application seeks to deny the suspects’ bond on grounds that the officer is investigating the trafficking of narcotics worth Sh9.4 million weighing 316 kilograms, that they could interfere with information and that they were also a flight risk if released before the investigations are concluded. 

She further said that given that there was no one found in the car, the police combed fingerprints to profile the suspects to see if they were involved.

Ogego confirmed to the court that the suspects’ phones were confiscated to try and link the phone to the scene of crime through the Safaricom's call data to connect with the owner of the Prado.

Ogega said the suspects were among an extensive group involved in the trafficking of drugs in the Coast region and hence police needed more time to arrest their collaborators.

However, Shikanda allowed the plea to be deferred until Monday, September18 and further ordered the prosecution to amend the charge sheet.

“Based on the arguments made, I will defer the ruling to Monday. The suspects remain in Mtwapa police station," ruled out Shikanda.

Courtesy; KNA