A Kenyan court has ordered the detention of six Iranian nationals arrested in connection with a massive drug trafficking operation worth Ksh8 billion. The suspects were apprehended after their vessel was intercepted off the Mombasa coast. The ruling allows for further investigations into the methamphetamine haul.
On October 28, 2025, the Shanzu Magistrate’s Court in Mombasa ruled to detain six Iranian nationals for 30 days at the Port Police Station. Chief Magistrate Antony Mwicigi granted the Director of Public Prosecutions' request, emphasizing the seriousness of the offense under Section 4(a)(ii) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, 1994. The court also directed that the seized substances be sent to the Government Chemist for analysis and the suspects' mobile phones to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters for forensic examination.
The arrests stem from an operation on October 26, when a joint team from the DCI, Kenya Navy, Kenya Coast Guard, and the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) intercepted a suspicious vessel approximately 630 kilometers east of Mombasa. Alerted by regional and international partners about a stateless boat in the Western Indian Ocean, security agencies obtained a court order to inspect the vessel upon escorting it to Kilindini Port. They seized 769 packages of methamphetamine valued at Ksh8.2 billion.
DCI Director Mohamed Amin stated, "It may be too early for me to say that the destination was point A or B; it is still under investigation, but certainly it was destined anywhere in this region, and in terms of the source, the vessel was stateless and it had no flags." The prosecution highlighted the need for thorough probes to address transnational organized crime and national security.
The case was adjourned due to concerns over the credibility of an interpreter. The suspects will receive medical treatment at the state's expense, with the next mention scheduled for November 14. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced that the government plans to publicly burn the drugs to demonstrate commitment to combating illicit substances.
This incident marks one of the largest drug hauls in Kenya's history, prompting ongoing investigations into the drugs' origin and intended destination.