Kenya's Shanzu Magistrate's Court has extended the detention of six Iranian nationals until January 12, 2026, amid an investigation into an alleged drug trafficking operation valued at over KSh 8 billion. The ruling follows a prosecution request highlighting the case's complexity. The suspects were arrested on a vessel at Kilindini Port with suspected synthetic narcotics.
On December 4, 2025, Chief Magistrate Antony Muchigi at the Shanzu Magistrate's Court granted an extension of detention for six Iranian nationals involved in a suspected drug trafficking scheme. The decision came at the request of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who cited the need for further forensic analysis and international cooperation due to the operation's intricate nature.
The suspects face potential charges under Section 4(a)(ii) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, 1994, related to trafficking synthetic narcotics. They were arrested on October 24, 2025, when the Kenya Navy intercepted a suspicious vessel at Kilindini Port. Authorities discovered 769 packages containing a crystalline substance totaling about 1,036 kilograms, believed to be synthetic drugs.
Initial court proceedings began on October 27, 2025, with a 30-day remand approved the following day. A subsequent 21-day extension was ordered on November 15, 2025, to allow deeper probes into the drugs' origin and destination. Current investigations include forensic examination of the suspects' mobile phones at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters and laboratory testing of the seized samples by the Government Chemist.
The investigating officer noted that the operation's scale, the substances' nature, and links to international networks necessitate additional time. The DPP described the case as a matter of national security, aligning with efforts to counter transnational organized crime. The suspects remain in custody at the Port Police Station, with a decision on formal charges anticipated at their next court appearance on January 12, 2026.