30 January 2026
Botswana has begun formal processes to extradite six Mexican nationals to Mozambique after they recently pleaded guilty to entering the country through an ungazetted border point, according to court proceedings reported by The Monitor.
The men, who prosecutors say are wanted in Mozambique on multiple drug trafficking charges and are on Interpol’s radar, recently appeared before the Extension II Magistrate Court in Gaborone, where they admitted to illegally entering Botswana.
Guilty pleas in Gaborone Court
The accused — Gumecindo Enrique (61), Jose Pena (48), Fansico Alejandro (33), Jose Corrales (39), Carlos Aguilar (32), and David Teran (26) — were arrested in Gaborone in late November. They were apprehended alongside Uchema Njoku (53), a Nigerian national charged with aiding and abetting crime for allegedly assisting the group to unlawfully enter Botswana.
During the recent court session, Prosecutor Keletso Kgati applied for the pleas of the accused to be formally taken.
“This matter has come for a status update, and we apply that a plea be taken for the accused persons for the charge they are facing since a plea was reserved in the last appearances,” Kgati told the court, as reported by The Monitor.
While the defence for the six Mexican nationals raised no objection, Njoku’s lawyer, Mawite, objected to proceeding without full disclosure of witness statements.
“We have not been served with any witness statements,” the defence submitted.
Magistrate Mmesi granted the request, allowing Njoku’s plea to be reserved, while the six Mexican nationals proceeded to plead guilty.
Extradition process underway
Following the guilty pleas, the State revealed extradition processes to Mozambique are already underway. Speaking on the sidelines of the court proceedings, Kgati said Botswana is engaging Mozambican authorities to facilitate the transfer of the suspects.
“We are in communications with people in Mozambique about extraditing them, so it will be soon,” Kgati said, according to The Monitor.
Court records cited by The Monitor indicate that the six are facing two to three drug trafficking charges in Mozambique, where they allegedly went into exile after being granted bail in earlier cases.
Alleged drug kingpins and regional network
Prosecutors further allege that the group forms part of a major narcotics syndicate in Mozambique, accused of establishing and operating a drug laboratory wholly run by foreign nationals, with supplies allegedly reaching several neighbouring countries.
Authorities also disclosed that the suspects were found in possession of an undisclosed sum of money, which has since been seized and handed over to the Bank of Botswana, as investigations continue.
The case underscores growing regional concerns over cross-border drug trafficking, the use of Southern Africa as a transit hub, and the expanding reach of international criminal networks operating across multiple jurisdictions.
The matter is expected to return to court for a facts reading, while extradition engagements between Botswana and Mozambique progress.
Source: https://shorturl.at/jMOgA
