A man has been sentenced to a fine of Ksh 50 million or a 30-year prison term after being found guilty of drug trafficking by a Nyahururu court.
Bernard Waiguru Mwangi was found guilty of possessing and trafficking narcotics, specifically cannabis sativa, in violation of Section 4(ii) of the Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Amendment Act of 2022.
He was accused of trafficking 1,422 kilograms of cannabis, worth Ksh 41 million, on January 18 this year at Kigumo village in the Lusogwa area of Nyahururu Sub-County, Laikipia County.
The drugs were discovered hidden in a container lined with aluminum sheets, reportedly stored for over a month by an unknown dealer.
While delivering the judgment, Nyahururu Resident Magistrate Fredrick Larabi emphasized the gravity of the offense, noting its widespread occurrence in various parts of the country. He imposed a severe sentence to deter future crimes.
The prosecution presented five witnesses, successfully proving the case beyond reasonable doubt. Mwangi, who testified in his defense but called no witnesses, failed to challenge the prosecution’s evidence.
As a result, the court imposed a fine of Kshs 50 million or, alternatively, a 30-year prison sentence. Mwangi was given a 14-day window to appeal the decision.
Additionally, the court ordered the destruction of the 63 bags of cannabis, used as evidence, in the presence of local authorities, including the Deputy Commissioner, Area Police Commander, DCI, OCS Nyahururu, and Public Health officials.
The container and aluminum sheets used to store the drugs were confiscated by the state, as no one claimed ownership. The court instructed that these items be repurposed for other uses.
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