Two suspects have been charged before a Mombasa court over allegations of conspiring to traffic cocaine valued at nearly KSh4 million.
The accused, Hilton Gocho Chopeta and Mohamed Jabir Ali, appeared in court over offences allegedly committed between July 15 and 16, 2026, in Mombasa County.
According to the charge sheet, the two allegedly conspired with other individuals who are still at large to transport cocaine, contrary to Kenya’s narcotic drugs laws.
In addition to the conspiracy charge, the suspects face separate counts of trafficking narcotic drugs. Prosecutors allege that Chopeta was found trafficking 734.9528 grams of cocaine valued at KSh2,939,811, while Ali is accused of possessing 256.478 grams of cocaine worth approximately KSh1,025,912.
Authorities said the total quantity of cocaine recovered during the operation was 991.4308 grams, with an estimated street value of KSh3,965,723.
Both suspects pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The prosecution opposed their release on bail, arguing that they pose a flight risk and could interfere with ongoing investigations if released before the case is heard and determined.
In a sworn affidavit, Constable Gershom Wachitsa, an investigator attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ Anti-Narcotics Unit in Mombasa, told the court that investigations are still underway and that keeping the suspects in custody is necessary to safeguard the integrity of the case.
Police told the court that Chopeta was arrested on July 15 while allegedly preparing to board a flight to Dubai.
Investigators said he was escorted to the DCI offices, where he excreted 15 pellets suspected to contain cocaine. He was later admitted to Port Reitz Hospital, where he excreted an additional 29 pellets, bringing the total number recovered from his body to 44.
The following day, police arrested Ali while he was crossing the Likoni Ferry toward Mombasa Island.
According to investigators, Ali later led detectives to his residence in Bombolulu to collect keys before directing them to another house in the Bamburi Fisheries area, where officers recovered 16 more pellets suspected to contain cocaine.
The investigating officer further informed the court that Ali is already facing another pending criminal case.
The prosecution urged the court to deny both suspects bail until the case is fully heard and determined, arguing that doing so would serve the interests of justice.
However, the defence opposed the application, maintaining that the prosecution had failed to present compelling reasons to justify denying the suspects their constitutional right to bail.
Through their lawyer, the accused argued that their constitutional rights had already been violated after they were arraigned outside the legally prescribed time following their arrest.
The defence also contended that the prosecution had not demonstrated how releasing the suspects on bail would interfere with investigations or prejudice the administration of justice.
According to the investigation summary presented in court, one suspect initially excreted 15 pellets, followed by three more while hospitalized. In the early hours of the following day, he excreted five additional pellets, later followed by one pellet and then three more. On July 17, he passed the final two pellets, bringing the total recovered from his body to 44. An X-ray examination later confirmed that all the suspected drug pellets had been successfully removed.
The case is expected to proceed as investigations continue.
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