In what is regarded as a major breakthrough, police say they have arrested one the most wanted drug lords.
A forty-three-year-old South African national of Nigerian origin, Kenny Chikwuemeka Chiama, appeared briefly before the Gaborone Village chief magistrate, Barnabas Nyamazabo, on Friday.
Chiama is faces two counts of possession of habit forming drugs, cocaine and ecstasy.
Detective Senior Superintendent, Merriam Kelano of Drugs and Narcotics said, “This is one of the major breakthroughs that we have made so far as we count down to the kick off of the FIFA 2010 World Cup that will be held in South Africa.”
She said the suspect, who has been on Botswana’s wanted list, was arrested by the police at Mmopane last week Thursday.
During his arrest, she said, large quantities of suspected substances that looked like cocaine and ecstasy were found in his possession.
“This is not the first time we arrested the suspect; in the last two arrests between 2006 and 2007, he was arrested but was acquitted on a technicality,” she said.
Kelano said the suspect is one of Gaborone’s drug dealers who peddle drugs between South Africa and Botswana.
However, Botswana’s alleged biggest drug lord, Erine Ramokate, aged 45, was also arrested sometime in 2008.
She was then granted bail but later skipped the country to South Africa where she was re-arrested and was extradited to Botswana a few months ago.
She remains in custody in Botswana.
