Drug trafficking: Mombasa court jails Tanzanian man for 20 years

A Mombasa court on Tuesday sentenced a Tanzanian national to 20 years imprisonment and a Ksh.26.6 million fine after he was found guilty of drug trafficking.

Harun Bakari Juya, who has been in police custody for three-and-half years, was arrested on February 18, 2013 in Lungalunga after arriving in Kenya from Tanzania.

Upon being subjected to a security check, he was found with 2.975 kilograms of heroin worth Ksh.8.9 million.

In convicting the accused, Mombasa senior Principle Francis Kyiambia noted that drug abuse was a menace among the youth in the Coast region, adding that the sentence handed to Mr. Bakari was to serve as a warning to other drug traffickers.

In case he is unable to raise the Ksh.26.6 million fine, the court ruled that the accused will serve four more years in prison, thus end up serving a 24 year jail term.

The court gave Bakari 14 days to appeal the decision.