Anti-narcotics police on Tuesday in Nyali seized seven cars-one among them was branded with Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho’s images and half a kilo of heroin worth millions of shillings.
The cars according to Larry Kieng, regional police boss were found at a home in Nyali, a suburb in Mombasa County.
During the sting operation, police nabbed seven wanted drug barons.
However, Kieng said they are yet to confirm if the vehicle indeed belongs to Joho.
“We are yet to verify the owner of the car with relevant authorities including KRA. We cannot conclude it belongs to the Joho at this stage,” Kieng told journalists on phone.
He added “It’s wrong to speculate ownership of the vehicle and the motive at this stage. Maybe it was disguised by the drug traffickers. All the vehicles were taken to the regional headquarters for investigations.”
Joho through his communication director Richard Chacha said the branded vehicle containing his images does not belong to him or his family.
He said no one should speculate since ODM supporters have branded their cars with images of the governor as campaigns enter homestretch.
Joho has severally been linked to peddling drugs, accusations he has strongly refuted.
Police also recovered Sh4.5 million and $10,000 cash during the operation. Among those arrested are Hope Brenda Mbaga and Musa Athumani Kihara and a Tanzanian national, Abdullahi Ahmad Kheri.
Police have heightened operations in reigning in drug barons in the coast.
Kieng said the fight against drugs will continue. “The war on drugs must be sustained. We believe the seven are behind the drug trade in the country.”