A Lamu court has fined a man Sh50 million or sentenced him to 10 years in prison after finding him guilty of trafficking narcotic drugs.

Resident Magistrate Flavian Mulama convicted Abdulrahman Issa of trafficking cannabis sativa and diazepam by storing the drugs, contrary to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act.

According to court proceedings, the offence was committed on March 12, 2026, at Tchundwa Village in Lamu East Sub-county, Lamu County, alongside other suspects who were not before the court.

The court heard that police officers on patrol intercepted Issa while he was carrying an orange bag. A search of the bag led to the recovery of 250 grams of cannabis sativa, 10 diazepam tablets, a roll of partially smoked bhang, a razor blade, a metallic spoon, a transparent side plate, a broken tile and a matchbox.

During the trial, Issa denied being in possession of the narcotics. He claimed police recovered the exhibits from his father’s house after arresting him together with two other men. However, he did not call either of the alleged co-arrestees to testify in his defence.

In his judgment, Magistrate Mulama ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt through consistent and corroborated testimony from three witnesses, supported by exhibits produced in court.

The court found that the evidence established Issa was in possession of the orange bag containing the narcotics and other items recovered during the arrest.

The magistrate also dismissed the accused’s defence as unsubstantiated, noting that it consisted of mere denials without independent evidence. He observed that although Issa claimed he had been arrested alongside two other individuals, he failed to present them as witnesses, leaving the prosecution’s account unchallenged.

The court further held that the circumstances surrounding the arrest indicated drug trafficking rather than possession for personal use.

According to the judgment, the razor blade, metallic spoon, transparent side plate and partially smoked bhang recovered alongside the narcotics were consistent with the preparation and repackaging of drugs for distribution.

The court also relied on a Government Chemist’s report, which confirmed that the recovered substances were cannabis and diazepam, both classified as narcotic drugs under Kenyan law. The report was not contested by the defence.

“The prosecution’s evidence outweighs that of the defence,” Magistrate Mulama ruled before convicting Issa under Section 215 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

He subsequently sentenced the convict to pay a fine of Sh50 million or serve 10 years’ imprisonment in default of payment.

The court informed Issa of his right to appeal both the conviction and sentence within 14 days.