Kenyan Navy seizes Sh8.2bn meth haul, arrests six Iranians in high seas raid

Five of the six Iranians arrested on board a stateless vessel carrying 1.24 tonnes of narcotic drugs / BRIAN OTIENO

A consignment of synthetic methamphetamine worth Sh8.2 billion was on Friday seized by a multi-agency security team in the high seas off the Kenyan Coast.

Kenya Navy deputy commander Brigadier Sankale Kisua said the narcotics were aboard a stateless vessel christened Mashallah.

Brigadier Kisua, who led the intelligence-driven operation, said six Iranians were on board when the vessel was intercepted and escorted to the Mombasa port.

“For the last four days, we’ve been conducting an operation code-named Operation Bahari Safi, where the Kenya Navy was able to intercept this suspicious vessel about 630km east of Mombasa,” Brig Kisua said.

He spoke at the Mombasa port on Saturday evening.

Kenya Navy deputy commander Brigadier Sankale Kisua during the press briefing at the Mombasa port on Saturday. /BRIAN OTIENO

Upon a thorough search by the multi-agency security team, which included Nacada officers, a large consignment of synthetic narcotics weighing 1,024kg (1.24 tonnes) was discovered in sacks.

“This is a big success for the Kenyan security teams,” he said.

Brigadier Kisua added: “This has come about with the cooperation of other regional partners who provided very valuable information on the movement of this suspicious vessel.”

The vessel had been on the radar of the international community for suspected involvement in illicit activities, particularly narcotics trafficking, within the Western Indian Ocean.

Brigadier Kisua said the six Iranians will be arraigned in court on Monday after being processed throughout Saturday.

Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Mohammed Amin said the operation, led by the Kenya Navy, also involved the Kenya Coast Guard Service and Nacada. Amin said the vessel was nicknamed Igol.

He added that it was not clear where the consignment of synthetic methamphetamine originated or where it was headed, as the vessel was stateless and carried no flag.

“We followed through the legal protocols and made a miscellaneous application before the courts for purposes of detention and search of the facility,” Amin said.

DCI boss Mohammed Amin during the press briefing at the Port of Mombasa on Saturday. /BRIAN OTIENO

Amin confirmed that the 769 packages of crystalline substance weighed approximately 1,024 kilograms and were found to contain methamphetamine.

“We did our own preliminary sampling tests at the Government Chemist, and the analysis confirmed that the substance was methamphetamine, which is a synthetic drug,” Amin said.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the source and destination of the narcotics.

Amin added that chemical analysis indicated the drugs were 98 per cent pure.

“That is a huge success in our fight against transnational organized crimes and narcotic drugs in the region and continentally.

“This operation demonstrates the commitment of our law enforcement agencies in combating drug trafficking and ensuring our national security.

“It also demonstrates the commitment of our Kenya Navy team in ensuring our maritime security,” the DCI boss said.

Kenya Coast Guard Service Director-General Bruno Shioso and Nacada Director-General Anthony Omerikwa were also present at the briefing.