Six Iranian nationals accused of trafficking narcotics worth approximately $63 million appeared Monday at Mombasa’s Shanzu Law Courts. The suspects were arrested at Kilindini Port following a multi-agency operation led by Kenya Navy intelligence on a suspicious vessel off the Indian Ocean.
Authorities seized 769 packages of crystal methamphetamine, weighing a total of 1,035.986 kilograms, in what is considered one of the country’s largest drug hauls. The Directorate of Public Prosecutions said investigations are ongoing to determine the source and intended destination of the seized methamphetamine.
The suspects, named Jasem Darzadeh Nia, Nadeem Jadgal, Imran Baloch, Hassan Baloch, Rahim Baksh, and Imtiyaz Daryayi, appeared in court under tight security. Prosecutors requested time to verify the court interpreter’s credentials and called for an independent interpreter to safeguard the fairness of the trial.
The DPP also indicated plans to seek 30-day continued detention to allow investigators sufficient time to complete their inquiries into the offences. Magistrate ordered the six suspects to remain in custody at the Port Police Station, with further orders expected on Tuesday. The case casts a spotlight on Kenya’s coastal security and highlights the ongoing fight against international drug trafficking networks.