October 16, 1978: Customs officials at Orly Airport in Paris seizes a former Kenyan diplomat allegedly trying to smuggle large quantities of hashish into France. A suitcase carried by Justus Mutia Muthembwa (centre) a former Kenyan commercial attache in France, was discovered to contain 14.5 kilos of hashish estimated to be worth $12,000, police said. They said Mr. Muthembwa was on a flight from Nairobi to Paris via Zurich, Switzerland. Muthembwa, 43, now works as a fruit and vegetable exporter, police said. In May last year Mr. Muthembwa appeared in a Nairobi court charged with being in possession of 16 kilos of bhang, game trophies, pistol and ammunition. He was jointly charged with his wife, Jane Mbaika, and a brother, William Keli, who were acquitted by resident magistrate Mr. Francis Hiuhu. Mr. Muthembwa was convicted and fined Sh 3000 which he paid. In the same month he was accused of having £6,726 sterling and $130 which had not been declared. Muthembwa, who denied the charge before senior resident magistrate Mr. Ramesh Kapila, was convicted and fined 40,000/- or 12 months imprisonment in default for contravening the Exchange Control Act. He was also ordered to forfeit the currency.

Photo|Nation Syndication