Nairobi court detains extradited Ugandan woman over alleged drug trafficking
On Tuesday a court approved an application filed by the DPP seeking custodial orders against the suspect under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act
A Nairobi court has allowed authorities to detain a Ugandan woman, Hellen Ikareut, who was recently extradited to Kenya over suspected involvement in an international drug trafficking ring.
Principal Magistrate Irene Gichobi, sitting at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) law courts, on Tuesday approved an application filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) seeking custodial orders against the suspect under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act.
According to Prosecuting Counsel John Tago, Ikareut is at the center of a case involving a suspicious consignment intercepted by officers from the Anti-Narcotics Unit on May 18, 2023, at the DHL cargo terminal at JKIA.
The consignment, which had been dispatched from Kitengela and addressed to a recipient identified as Chris Kagawa Manana Godaibiya in Bahrain, reportedly contained 25 shower curtains. However, upon further inspection, authorities discovered a concealed greenish plant material within the shipment.
Tests conducted on the material confirmed it was a narcotic substance, prompting the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to seize the parcel as part of ongoing investigations.
Investigators say that Ikareut fled the country shortly after the seizure of the shipment, prompting the DPP to engage Interpol to initiate extradition proceedings. She was eventually arrested and handed over to Kenyan authorities, who rearrested her upon arrival at the immigration section of Terminal IE at JKIA.
In her ruling, Magistrate Gichobi directed that Ikareut be detained at Embakasi Police Station for three working days to allow the government chemist to conduct weighing and analysis of the suspected drugs in her presence. The court also instructed the prosecution to use this time to record statements from key witnesses linked to the case.
The matter is set for mention on August 11, when the court will receive updates on the progress of the investigations and give further directions.
If formally charged, Ikareut could face serious penalties under Kenyan anti-narcotics laws, which provide stiff sentences for drug trafficking offences.
