Tanzanian among suspects held over Sh500bn heroin haul

A photo made available by the Royal Australian Navy shows over one tonne of heroin seized after personnel from Australian navy ship Darwin boarded a suspicious vessel off the Kenyan coast on April 23. The heroin is reported to have a street value of almost Sh500 billion. PHOTO | COURTESY 

By The Citizen Reporter and Agencies

In Summary

• Three suspects – a Tanzanian, Kenyan and an Asian – were arrested in relation to the largest drug haul ever to have been seized in the region

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Dar es Salaam/Mombasa. A Tanzanian national is among suspects seized over the record $312 million (about Sh500 billion) heroin intercepted by an Australian navy ship last month off the Kenyan coast.

 

Reports from Mombasa said three suspects – a Tanzanian, Kenyan and an Asian – were arrested by local police in relation to the largest drug haul ever to have been seized in the region.

East African countries, particularly Tanzania and Kenya, are said to be major drug conduits in Africa.

The Chinese news agency Xinhua reported yesterday that the three suspects, who were not named,  were being questioned about the ownership of the boat that was intercepted with 1,032 kilogrammes (one tonne) of pure heroin on board.

Contacted by The Citizen for comment yesterday, the head of Tanzania’s anti-drugs unit, Mr Godfrey Nzowa, said he was not aware that a Tanzanian had been arrested in connection with the haul.

The two countries’ anti-drugs and anti-terror units routinely share information and exchange intelligence.

The record haul was seized some 27 nautical miles off the Kenyan coast on April 23 by Australian navy personnel who were on patrol aboard HMAS Darwin.

The move sparked a diplomatic row between Kenya and Australia, with the former saying its security personnel were not informed of the sting operation by the Australian navy.

The vessel, according to reports, was intercepted as it was sailing to Mombasa.

Kenya port deputy police boss Charity Wangui, on Friday confirmed that the MV Laxminarayan was at the old port in Mombasa.

She said police were questioning three suspects, but no drugs were found on the boat, which carried a consignment of cement.

The Australian High Commission in Nairobi said the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) impounded the drug cargo before releasing the boat and its occupants.