By Kurgat Marindany
Police in Kitengela have arrested a woman believed to be an underworld dealer and distributor of a sleep inducing drug used to spike alcohol to make victims drowsy before being robbed.
She is believed to be selling the drug in several Kenyan cities and towns.
The drug commonly known as ‘mchele’ (rice) has devastating sleeping effect when taken with an alcoholic, making victims drowsy immediately after taking alcohol laced with the drug.
Police officers led by Kitengela acting OCS, Inspector Joseph Koskey, nabbed the suspect said to have links in Nairobi, Mombasa and Nakuru and recovered five sachets containing 10 bottles of 3ml each of ‘puff adder’ (snake antivenom serum).
Koskey said the drug with a street value of Sh30,000 is used in spiking drinks of victims.
“We have established that she has been selling this drug in the country’s major cities and towns which is used in drugging unsuspecting revellers in restaurants and bars,” noted Koskey.
He said the arrest was a breakthrough because they have been receiving many reports of victims who had been drugged and robbed of property.
“A victim is rendered motionless for close to 24 hours or even more. This is the time he or she is robbed clean by the person who administered the drug,” Koskey explained.
Immediately after the suspect was arrested, the police prepared a charge sheet and took her to court in Kajiado town.
The suspect,Teresiah Mwikali was later arraigned in court before Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi.
Mwikali was charged with five counts of unlawfully being in possession of part one poison contrary to Section 26 (2) of the pharmacy and Poisons Act Cap 244 of the laws of Kenya.
The second charge read to her stated that she was found in Kitengela town within Kajiado County unlawfully carrying on the business of a pharmacist while not registered as a pharmacist.
Another charge stated that she was found in possession of unregistered drugs, and counterfeit medicine contrary to Section 32 (c) of the counterfeit Act, 2008.
Mwikali pleaded not guilty to all the charges, and Shitubi fixed the hearing of her case on May 28. She was given a free bond of Sh5 million with the same surety or a cash bail of Sh1 million.