Six Iranian nationals have withdrawn earlier guilty pleas in a major drug trafficking case in Kenya involving methamphetamine valued at about $63.5 million, with prosecutors confirming the matter will now proceed to trial.
The suspects, Jaseem Darzadeh Nia, Nadeem Jadgal, Hassan Baloch, Raheem Baksh, Imran Baloch and Imtiyaz Daryay, appeared before Chief Magistrate Anthony Mwicigi and asked for the charge to be read again, saying they did not fully understand it when they pleaded guilty around two weeks earlier.
After the charge was read afresh, all six entered not guilty pleas.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has charged the men with trafficking narcotic drugs under Kenya’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act. The case relates to the seizure of 1,036 kilograms of methamphetamine found on board an unregistered, stateless vessel named Mashaallah.
According to prosecutors, the alleged offence took place between October 17 and October 20, 2025, on the high seas around 350 nautical miles east of the Port of Mombasa.
Authorities say the quantity of drugs points to a highly organised transnational trafficking network operating along Indian Ocean maritime routes.
Prosecutors opposed any application for bond, arguing the suspects are foreign nationals with no known residence or strong ties in Kenya, making them a significant flight risk.
They added that releasing the accused could undermine the case due to its scale and international nature, according to media.
The court agreed and denied bond, ordering that the suspects be remanded at Shimo La Tewa Prison in Mombasa while the case proceeds.
The magistrate also directed that the accused be provided with pro bono legal representation at state expense to ensure a fair trial.
The case is scheduled for pre trial mention on February 19, 2026, as investigations and preparations for trial continue.