A 35-year-old Nigerian national has been arraigned in a Mombasa court over alleged heroin trafficking involving drugs valued at nearly Ksh 10 million, in a case that highlights ongoing concerns over narcotics trade along Kenya’s coastal region.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Emmanuel Chimezie Okwara was charged on Tuesday before Senior Resident Magistrate Gladys Ollimo with trafficking narcotic drugs, contrary to Section 4(a)(ii) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act.
The court heard that Okwara was allegedly found storing 3,265 grams of heroin with a street value of Ksh 9,795,000.
The offence is said to have been committed on April 15, 2026, in the Kadzandani area within Kisauni Sub-County, Mombasa County.
Prosecutors further charged the accused with being unlawfully present in Kenya, contrary to provisions of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act.
The charge sheet indicates that Okwara, a Nigerian citizen, was found in the country without a valid passport or legal permit.
He pleaded not guilty to both charges.
The prosecution, led by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, opposed his release on bond, arguing that the accused poses a significant flight risk due to the seriousness of the charges and his immigration status.
In submissions before the court, the prosecution stated that Okwara lacks fixed roots in Kenya and is likely to abscond trial if released.
It also emerged during proceedings that the accused had allegedly been residing in Bamburi since 2022 without proper documentation, a claim reportedly confirmed by his defence counsel.
The DPP further argued that the accused failed to present any evidence to support his legal stay in the country, reinforcing concerns about his compliance with court processes if granted bail.
Additionally, the prosecution urged the court to take judicial notice of increasing cases of drug trafficking, particularly along the Coast region, and to deny bond in the interest of justice and public safety.
Magistrate Ollimo is expected to deliver a ruling on whether the accused will be granted bond on Wednesday, as the case proceeds.