By JULIUS BWAHAMA,

SIX foreigners were on Thursday arraigned before Ilala District Court charged with trafficking cocaine worth 930m/-.

According to the Police Prosecutor Mr Daniel Buma the six men are: Diaka Brama (52) - a Guinean, Ndijano Abubakar (50) - a Liberian and four Ugandans - Sylvia Namrembe (34), Farida Kiswale (34), Rabsoni Teise (32) and Ismail Mugabi (40).

Mr Buma told the court before Magistrate Esther Mwakalinga that the suspects were arrested at Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport on June 6, this year.

According to the charge sheet, it is alleged that on that day, the accused were found in possession of cocaine worth 930m/- after inspection of their luggage by the airport security.

Mr Buma alleged that the suspects had trafficked the drugs from Brazil and were bound for Tanzania. It is further alleged that the suspects were found in possession of travel documents that showed that they were working for Ugandan and Guinea embassies.

However, Mr Steven Urasa, the defence counsel complained to the court that his clients have been languishing in prison for a long time and that they were arrested at Kilimanjaro International Airport and not at Julius Nyerere Airport as claimed in the charge sheet.

“Your honour my clients have been incarcerated for a very long time. They were actually just framed and they were not arrested at Mwalimu Nyerere International airport but at Kilimanjaro International airport,” complained Mr Urasa.

“This case should be thrown away because its investigation is taking such a long time but fruitless,” Urasa told the court. Nevertheless, the suspects were sent back to remand and the case was adjourned to January 5, next year, for another mention.

Meanwhile, a resident of Kimara area was on Wednesday brought before the same court charged with stealing property worth 20m/-. Police Prosecutor Mr Credo Rugaju told the court that Hamis Seleman (24) is alleged to have committed the crime at Kariakoo Pemba Street.

It is alleged that on December 11, this year at about 1 pm, Selemani stole two computer desktops, two laptops, a compressor, a welding machine, two digital cameras, an inverter and a power stabilizer all valued at 20m/-, property of Mr Michael Mwakatuma.

The accused pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Mwakalinga and was remanded for failure to meet bail conditions. The case was adjourned to January 6, for another mention.