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Son of Scottish aristocrat charged with trafficking 100kg of cocaine in Kenya Son of Scottish aristocrat charged with trafficking 100kg of cocaine in Kenya
(35 minutes later)
The son of a Scottish aristocrat has been charged in Kenya with trafficking nearly 100kg of cocaine in one of the country’s biggest drugs seizures in recent years.The son of a Scottish aristocrat has been charged in Kenya with trafficking nearly 100kg of cocaine in one of the country’s biggest drugs seizures in recent years.
Jack Marrian, 30, whose mother is Emma Clare Campbell of Cawdor, denied the charge during a court appearance in Nairobi on Thursday.Jack Marrian, 30, whose mother is Emma Clare Campbell of Cawdor, denied the charge during a court appearance in Nairobi on Thursday.
The haul was found by Kenyan police and US Drug Enforcement Agency officials in containers that had arrived from Brazil at the main Kenyan seaport last week, Associated Press reported. The class A drugs were allegedly shipped around the world in containers supposedly carrying sugar destined for Uganda.The haul was found by Kenyan police and US Drug Enforcement Agency officials in containers that had arrived from Brazil at the main Kenyan seaport last week, Associated Press reported. The class A drugs were allegedly shipped around the world in containers supposedly carrying sugar destined for Uganda.
Marrian was born into the famous line of Scottish nobility known as the Clan Campbell of Cawdor. His mother, Lady Campbell, 58, is the daughter of the late Hugh John Vaughan Campbell, the sixth Earl Cawdor, an artist and landowner.Marrian was born into the famous line of Scottish nobility known as the Clan Campbell of Cawdor. His mother, Lady Campbell, 58, is the daughter of the late Hugh John Vaughan Campbell, the sixth Earl Cawdor, an artist and landowner.
David Marrian, the arrested Briton’s father, an artist who has exhibited paintings in Kenya, confirmed to the Guardian that his son had been arrested, but declined to comment further.David Marrian, the arrested Briton’s father, an artist who has exhibited paintings in Kenya, confirmed to the Guardian that his son had been arrested, but declined to comment further.
Growing up in an affluent part of Nairobi, Marrian went to the one of Kenya’s foremost international schools at the same time as the British cyclist and three-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome. Crista Cullen, the English hockey player, was also at the Banda school at the same time as Marrian and Froome.
It is understood that Marrian then studied at the elite Marlborough college, where the Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Eugenie were students, before going on to the University of Bristol.
His mother runs a high-end design company on the outskirts of Nairobi called Interior Idea. In a small biography on the company website, Campbell is said to have lived and worked in Kenya for 20 years.
Marrian’s younger brother, Finlay, who runs a safari camp in the Masai Mara national reserve, south-west Kenya, said he was not at liberty to discuss his brother’s case when contacted on Thursday.
Hugh Campbell, Marrian’s grandfather, was described in an obituary as “an excellent custodian” of Cawdor, their medieval house near Nairn on the Moray firth.Hugh Campbell, Marrian’s grandfather, was described in an obituary as “an excellent custodian” of Cawdor, their medieval house near Nairn on the Moray firth.
In a one-word Facebook status posted on Monday, sent from the Spring Valley area of Nairobi, Marrian wrote “released”. He has not updated his account since.In a one-word Facebook status posted on Monday, sent from the Spring Valley area of Nairobi, Marrian wrote “released”. He has not updated his account since.
Marrian’s aunt, Elizabeth Campbell, told the Guardian “he’s innocent, that’s all I can say”, but declined to comment further.Marrian’s aunt, Elizabeth Campbell, told the Guardian “he’s innocent, that’s all I can say”, but declined to comment further.
A National Crime Agency spokesman said: “We are aware of the seizure and the subsequent arrest of a UK national, and have assisted our Kenyan and US law enforcement partners. However, this is now a matter for the Kenyan authorities so it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”
Roy Francis Mwanthi, a Kenyan national, was charged separately with trafficking cocaine. It was not clear what happened to a third suspect, also Kenyan, police had questioned earlier.Roy Francis Mwanthi, a Kenyan national, was charged separately with trafficking cocaine. It was not clear what happened to a third suspect, also Kenyan, police had questioned earlier.
The prosecution says documents found on the ship that was used to transport the cargo detailed Marrian as a director of Mshale Uganda Limited, the firm which was to receive the containers.The prosecution says documents found on the ship that was used to transport the cargo detailed Marrian as a director of Mshale Uganda Limited, the firm which was to receive the containers.
Police had released Marrian and his co-accused on Monday because of a clause in Kenyan law which requires suspects to be charged within 24 hours of their arrest. The prosecution was initially not ready to press charges but they were re-arrested on Wednesday and charged on Thursday.Police had released Marrian and his co-accused on Monday because of a clause in Kenyan law which requires suspects to be charged within 24 hours of their arrest. The prosecution was initially not ready to press charges but they were re-arrested on Wednesday and charged on Thursday.
Police say both Marrian and Mwanthi, a director of Inland Africa Logistics Limited, had placed calls to the people processing the cargo at the port before it was impounded. Marrian and Mwanthi deny the charges.Police say both Marrian and Mwanthi, a director of Inland Africa Logistics Limited, had placed calls to the people processing the cargo at the port before it was impounded. Marrian and Mwanthi deny the charges.
The maximum penalty for drug trafficking in Kenya is a life sentence and a fine of more than $10,000 (£7,600).The maximum penalty for drug trafficking in Kenya is a life sentence and a fine of more than $10,000 (£7,600).
The seizure was a rare one in Kenya, which has become a cocaine distribution hub in recent years, according to the UN and the US. Traffickers from South America are said to take advantage of Nairobi’s extensive air links to Europe and Asia.The seizure was a rare one in Kenya, which has become a cocaine distribution hub in recent years, according to the UN and the US. Traffickers from South America are said to take advantage of Nairobi’s extensive air links to Europe and Asia.
They also exploit Kenya’s Indian Ocean coastline and lack of adequate security controls at the port of Mombasa, the US Department of State’s 2016 narcotics control strategy report said.They also exploit Kenya’s Indian Ocean coastline and lack of adequate security controls at the port of Mombasa, the US Department of State’s 2016 narcotics control strategy report said.
Stemming the flow of drugs is a challenge for Kenyan authorities, the report said, citing “corruption within the Kenyan government and business community ... High-level prosecutions or large seizures remain infrequent”.Stemming the flow of drugs is a challenge for Kenyan authorities, the report said, citing “corruption within the Kenyan government and business community ... High-level prosecutions or large seizures remain infrequent”.
For more than a decade, police in Kenya have been named as the most corrupt institution in the country by the local body of global anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International.For more than a decade, police in Kenya have been named as the most corrupt institution in the country by the local body of global anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International.