A Mexican Police and several foreigners are among suspects arrested in connection into the illegal drug lab discovered in Namanga, investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have revealed.
The Police officer identified as Alvarado Israel Vera a former member of the investigative unit in the Mexican Police was arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) while trying to evade the country.
Investigations by DCI established that he was among two other Mexicans brought into the country to ‘cook’ synthetic opiods (Methampthetamine) ahead of the operationalization of the suspected clandestine lab.
The DCI on Wednesday dismissed reports of a Mexican large-scale methamphetamine production lab located in Namanga near the Kenya-Tanzania border according to a local daily saying the lab had not been operational.
The investigative agency confirmed that it had received reports of the presence of a laboratory located in a remote area in a 10-acre parcel of land, 8 kilometres from the Nairobi-Namanga highway.
“Upon visiting the site, two iron sheet sheets structures were discovered, with one housing a chemical store, kitchen, and sleeping area,” said the DCI.
Based on the set up the detectives believed that a drug lab was being set up after materials consisting of an exercise book bearing lab drawings and chemical formulas were recovered at the scene belonging to the Mexican suspects.
Further investigations led to the arrests of the first suspect, Betty Mukami Micheni on September 16th 2024 in Ruiru, Kiambu and Agwu Ojukwu, a Nigerian national who the DCI believe was the mastermind in setting up the lab and was arrested on October 3rd while trying to flee the country through JKIA.
“From her house [Betty Mukami Micheni] several documents linking her to the purchase, importation and distribution of the land, chemicals and equipment found at the scene were seized,” a statement from DCI read.
Two other suspects, Caroline Wambui Muchira and Francis Maina Gachau who played critical roles in the purchase and distribution of the chemicals have also been arrested bringing the total number of accused persons charged at the JKIA court to six.
