Three acquitted over heroin trafficking case

Arusha. The High Court’s Corruption and Economic Crimes Division has acquitted three individuals charged with trafficking nearly one kilogramme of heroin, citing insufficient evidence.

Justice Sedekia Kisanya delivered the verdict on 23 May, ruling that the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

The accused — Mohamed Ramadhani, Khalid Ally, and Said Mohamed Ngokonda — were charged with trafficking 997.91 grams of heroin at the Azam Marine offices in Dar es Salaam on 24 December 2019.

A fourth accused, Said Adinan, was earlier acquitted after the court found no case against him.

According to the prosecution, the heroin was found hidden inside a rice sack at the Dar es Salaam port while being transported to Zanzibar. Security officers on duty noticed the suspicious parcel during a scan and alerted drug enforcement authorities.

The sack was seized following a search, and the substance was later confirmed by the Government Chemist Laboratory Authority to be heroin.

During the trial, witnesses testified that the parcel had been delivered by the first accused and was intended for the third accused in Zanzibar.

However, the defence denied any involvement, with Mohamed claiming to have been in Kisiju village on the day in question, and Khalid and Said denying ownership of the drugs.

In his ruling, Justice Kisanya said the prosecution did not establish a clear connection between the accused and the narcotics. He also highlighted procedural lapses, including the absence of an independent witness during the seizure.

“The prosecution failed to discharge the burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt,” the judge said, ordering the accused’s release.

The accused were represented by advocates Alfredy Haonga, Benjamin Magen, Subira Mhando, and Nehemia Nkoko.