Kenyan Akasha Brothers to Lose Billions in US Property Seizure

The US is reportedly set to impound and sell property belonging to Kenyan Akasha brothers.

This is part of their plea bargain agreement with the US authorities in exchange of lighter sentences after they pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges, The Star reports.

In documents filed in court, US attorney Geoffrey Berman says the two Akasha brothers; Ibrahim and Baktash agreed to handover all assets acquired through proceeds of drug trade.

“It is further understood that any forfeiture of the defendant’s assets shall not be treated as satisfaction of any fine, restitution, cost of imprisonment or any other penalty the court may impose upon them,” Berman says.

The two pleaded guilty to six counts of drug smuggling, bribery and violence before a New York court in September and are set to be sentenced in February, 2019.

The Akashas were arrested during an undercover operation by officers from the US  Drugs Enforcement Agency (DEA) in Mombasa on November 9th, 2014.

They were in possession of 99 kilos of heroin and 2 kilos of methamphetamine. They were deported to the US in January 2017 to face drug trafficking charges.

The family is estimated to be worth more than Sh20 billion and has invested heavily in real estate, businesses, high-end vehicles among others. 

“In consideration of the defendant’s plea to the above offences, the defendant will not be further prosecuted criminally by this office except for criminal tax violation if any, as to which this office cannot and does not make any agreement,” Berman adds.

“The defendant also agrees not to appeal any fine that is equal to or less than Sh1 billion and the government agrees not to appeal any fine that is equal to Sh5 million,” the deal reads.