For years, Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa bore witness to the silent rise of one of Africa’s most powerful drug empires — the Akasha cartel. Their name struck fear across borders, and their influence reached far beyond East Africa. From heroin-smuggling routes stretching to Europe and Asia, to chilling ties with Colombian and Afghan cartels, the Akashas were not just a Kenyan problem — they were a global narco threat.
But how did two brothers, Baktash and Ibrahim Akasha, come to command such influence, draw international attention from the U.S. DEA, and ultimately bring down a vast network of crime and corruption?
Who Were the Akashas?
The Akasha family originated from a powerful Arab-Kenyan lineage, long linked to the coast’s maritime economy. However, under the leadership of Baktash and Ibrahim — sons of the late Ibrahim Akasha (Sr.), a feared smuggler — the family business morphed into something far more sinister: drug trafficking on an industrial scale.
What set the Akashas apart was not just their violent enforcement of power, but their strategic alignment with international cartels, making Kenya a critical narco-transit hub. The brothers expanded their reach from Pakistan to Colombia, using East Africa as a staging point for heroin and meth exports to Europe and the United States.
The Documentary That Shook Kenya
A recent documentary released on YouTube, “Joho & The Akashas: Kenya’s Narco Documentary“, pulls back the curtain on the cartel’s rise, operations, and eventual collapse. The film dives into:
- Shocking levels of police and political collusion
- The war for Mombasa, Kenya’s drug capital
- The role of Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, who has long denied ties to the cartel
- The DEA’s strategic takedown involving undercover agents, wiretaps, and fake heroin deals
The documentary reveals unfiltered courtroom audio and testimonies of informants, painting a terrifying picture of how deeply embedded the Akashas were in Kenya’s social and political fabric.
Crimes and Operations of the Akasha Cartel
At the peak of their power, the Akashas operated like a mini-mafia state. Their portfolio included:
- Importation of heroin from Afghanistan via Pakistan
- Methamphetamine trade linked to Dutch and South American suppliers
- Bribery networks spanning Kenyan customs officials, police, and the judiciary
- Intimidation and elimination of business rivals, informants, and law enforcement
- Use of legitimate businesses (transport, clearing & forwarding, real estate) as fronts
They were known to carry out executions openly, often in broad daylight in Mombasa. Witnesses were silenced, and judges were paid. According to U.S. prosecutors, the Akashas “corrupted an entire justice system.”
U.S. DEA Takedown & Extradition
In a historic move, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) lured the Akasha brothers into a sting operation in Nairobi. Agents posing as drug buyers brokered fake deals for massive heroin and meth shipments — complete with weapons.
In 2017, the Akashas were extradited to the United States amid massive uproar in Kenya, exposing the weakness and compromise of the Kenyan judiciary, which had stalled their extradition for months.
Convictions and Sentencing
- Baktash Akasha pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years in a U.S. federal prison.
- Ibrahim Akasha also pleaded guilty and received 23 years.
The court proceedings laid bare a sordid saga of bribery, assassinations, and cartel diplomacy. Testimonies implicated high-level Kenyan officials, though few have been prosecuted locally.
Hassan Joho: Guilty by Association?
A constant theme in both the documentary and media reports is the alleged relationship between the Akashas and Mombasa former Governor Hassan Joho. While there is no conclusive evidence or conviction, leaked phone records and testimonies suggest a personal connection between Joho and the Akasha family.
Joho has vehemently denied these allegations, branding them as political propaganda meant to taint his image. However, the shadow of the Akashas continues to loom large over his political legacy.
Why the Akasha Story Matters Globally
Kenya is often portrayed as a peaceful tourist destination, but the Akasha saga uncovered how vulnerable the country is to international criminal networks. The cartel used Kenya’s porous borders, corruptible systems, and strategic location to act as middlemen between Asia, the Middle East, and the West.
This wasn’t just a Kenyan crime problem — it was a transnational threat. The takedown of the Akashas sent a strong signal that the U.S. is willing to act beyond its borders when its drug markets are targeted.
What Happened After the Akashas Fell?
- Several lower-level operatives were arrested or fled
- Drug activity in Mombasa continues, albeit less overtly
- DEA and European agencies increased their surveillance of East African ports
- Kenyan authorities have yet to prosecute any high-level political accomplices
The Akasha case remains a symbol of both impunity and justice — a story that continues to evolve as new names emerge from court documents and whistleblowers speak out.
Final Thoughts: A Narco State in the Making?
The rise of the Akashas was not just a failure of law enforcement — it was a collapse of governance. Their fall, however, provides a blueprint for how international cooperation and uncompromising pursuit of justice can disrupt even the most entrenched criminal empires.
The lingering question remains: how many other Akashas are still out there — operating in the shadows?
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