The Akasha brothers, who have been facing charges on drug trafficking in New York, have reportedly pleaded guilty.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Baktash and Ibrahim have pleaded guilty to six counts of drug trafficking charges.

“The Akasha brothers; Baktash Akasha and Ibrahim Akasha today pleaded guilty to six counts of Drug Trafficking charges in the Southern District of New York. The @DCI_Kenya Director of Anti Narcotics Unit had assembled a watertight case in partnership with The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,” DCI said in a tweet.

The Akashas were extradited to the U.S. In January 2017 after government agencies discovered a major smuggling operation connecting the poppy fields of Afghanistan to the cities of Europe and the United States.

MISSING CULPRITS, MISSING DRUGS

In 2004 Kenyan Police seized a consignment of cocaine worth 6.4 billion Kenyan shillings, the biggest consignment to have ever been nabbed in East Africa. Years down the line, no one has ever been held responsible.

US DRUG DOSSIER

Former US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger had in 2011 handed a dossier to the Kenya anti-corruption authority, seeking investigations against five MPs and a businessman for alleged drug trafficking.

Mr Punjani, together with MPs Harun Mwau then Kilome MP, William Kabogo, then Juja MP, Gideon Mbuvi then Makadara MP and Ali Hassan Joho then MP Kisauni were all investigated in connection with drug trafficking.

However, the police, in their preliminary report tabled in the House early in the year, failed to get any evidence to link the five to the crime and they were consequently cleared of involvement in the drug trade.

Kenya has been targeted by drug smugglers because of its geographical position and its weak drug policies.  Both heroin and cocaine have been smuggled from Asia through Kenya and on to other destinations.