The Shanzu Magistrate’s Court has granted the police permission to detain six Iranian nationals for 30 days, in connection with the trafficking of synthetic methamphetamine valued at over Ksh8 billion.
In a statement on Tuesday, October 28, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said the court okayed the detention of the six suspects following an application filed by the DPP.
Chief Magistrate Antony Muchigi ordered that the suspects remain in custody at the Port Police Station as investigations continue.
“The Shanzu Magistrate’s Court has okayed an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to detain six Iranian nationals arrested at the Kilindini Port in connection with the trafficking of narcotic drugs valued at over Ksh8 billion for 30 days,” read the statement in part.
At the same time, Muchigi directed investigators to forward the seized narcotics to the Government Chemist for analysis to confirm their composition.
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He also ordered the mobile phones of the suspects to be examined by forensic experts at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters.
“The court also authorized investigators to forward the seized substances to the Government Chemist for analysis to confirm their composition and to submit the suspects’ mobile phones for forensic examination at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters,” ODPP stated.
The six Iranian nationals are being investigated for trafficking in narcotic drugs, contrary to Section 4(a)(ii) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, 1994.
The matter will be mentioned on November 14, 2025.
The suspects were arrested after a multi-agency team comprising the Kenya Navy, Anti-Narcotics Unit, Kenya Coast Guard, NIS, and NACADA intercepted a vessel with synthetic methamphetamine during an operation code-named Bahari Safi.
The vessel was intercepted 630 kilometers east of Mombasa in the Indian Ocean and escorted to the port of Mombasa, where packages of methamphetamine weighing 1,024 kilograms stacked in sacks were discovered.
The vessel was on the radar of the international community for suspected involvement in drug trafficking before the Kenyan authorities seized it.
Meanwhile, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced that the Ksh8 billion synthetic methamphetamine will be publicly destroyed.
Speaking on Sunday, October 26, in Kisumu, Murkomen reiterated the government's commitment to the war against drugs, illicit alcohol, and substance abuse.
"Yesterday, you saw that, thanks to the vigilance of our military and police, we intercepted drugs that Iranians were transporting near our waters, worth Ksh8.2 billion.
"They will be taken to court and, soon, you will see us publicly destroy the drugs, because as a nation we have resolved to fight drugs, illicit alcohol and all kinds of things that are destroying the lives of our people," he said.
