Kenyan Authorities Uncover Mexican Cartel Drug Lab in Namanga.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) director, Muhammad Amin, confirmed the arrest of six suspects connected to the establishment of a concealed drug laboratory in Namanga, Kajiado County. The operation was linked to large-scale methamphetamine production, as highlighted in a report by the US State Department on International Narcotics Control Strategy. The American government’s findings pointed to an international drug syndicate operating within Kenya, with law enforcement successfully halting its activities.
Following intelligence reports, officers from the Anti-Narcotics Unit launched a raid on September 12, 2024. During the operation, they discovered two iron-sheet structures containing chemicals, two exercise books with laboratory drawings and chemical formulas, and a mobile phone belonging to a Mexican suspect.
Suspect Arrests and Roles
The first individual apprehended was Betty Mukami, who was taken into custody on September 16, 2024, in Ruiru, Kiambu County. She was suspected of organizing the lab’s establishment at the border town, as she possessed documents related to the acquisition of a 10-acre parcel of land and the purchase of chemicals and equipment recovered at the site.
Further investigations led to the arrests of two Nigerian nationals, Ogba and his brother Uku. Ogba was captured in Lavington, while Uku was intercepted at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as he attempted to flee. Uku was identified as the mastermind behind the lab, with ties to a South American drug cartel. Another significant suspect, Alvarado Israel Vera, a former Mexican police officer, was also arrested at JKIA while trying to escape back to Mexico. According to police reports, Alvarado was one of three Mexican nationals hired by Uku to oversee methamphetamine production, with two of them still at large.
Additional Links and Corporate Involvement
Subsequent inquiries led to the arrests of Caroline Wambui and Francis Gasa, who were implicated in procuring and distributing the chemicals used in the drug lab. Authorities also identified two companies, Enade Pharma Limited and Betlink Supplies Limited, as facilitators in the importation and supply of the chemicals. Both firms have been included in the ongoing case at JKIA law courts.
The DCI disclosed that investigations had uncovered an international drug network spanning Nigeria, India, Mexico, South Africa, and Gabon. However, detectives emphasized that the cartel’s operations had been disrupted before they could fully materialize.
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International Report and Implications
According to the US Department of State, the lab was linked to the Mexican cartel known as “D-Generation,” with Alvarado identified as one of its members. The American government also highlighted that drug trafficking remains a major contributor to corruption in Kenya, adding that political efforts to combat graft continue to face significant obstacles.
Authorities remain vigilant as the case progresses, ensuring that those responsible for the attempted drug operation face justice.
Kenyan Authorities Uncover Mexican Cartel Drug Lab in Namanga.
