Questions have emerged after a multi-agency team led by the Kenya Navy seized 1,024 kilograms of methamphetamine worth Sh8.2 billion. The drugs were seized off the Kenyan coast, about 630 kilometres east of Mombasa.
The drugs were seized from a stateless dhow that was dubbed as ‘Igor’. The dhow had a crew of six who were all Iranian nationals. The meth seized by Kenya Navy was packaged in packets that were concealed in black polythene bags.
These packets were then wrapped with a yellow tape labelled that was labeled as ‘100 per cent roasted and grounded Arabica coffee’. This was meant to disguise them as coffee.
“In an operation code-named Bahari Safi 2025.01 conducted under the RCOC 2025 Action Plan, the military deployed Kenya Navy Ship (KNS) Shupavu and a Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft operated by the Seychelles Coast Guard. KNS Shupavu towed the intercepted vessel, along with its crew, to the port of Mombasa where it was handed over to the Kenya Police Service Anti-Narcotics Unit for further investigations and prosecution of the six,” Kenya Navy deputy commander Brigadier Sankale Kisua told the media.
The seizure of the huge amount of drugs has happened amidst rising cases of Kenyan women who have been getting arrested at multiple international airports while trafficking drugs.
Incidentally, this was the third seizure of drugs worth over Sh1 billion, raising questions on whether the Kenyan waters are a transit for illegal habour and, or an entry point for illegal drugs.
For instance, in 2014, Sh1.4 billion heroin was found aboard a ship in the Indian Ocean by the Kenya Navy. These drugs were found on the deck of the vessel AMIN DARYA also known as MV Al Noor.
Six Pakistani nationals and 1 Iranian national were arrested and sentenced to life in prison by a Magistrate’s Court. However, they filed an appeal at the High Court and were set free by Justice Wendy Micheni over what was termed as procedural shortcomings.
In 2006, 1.1 tonnes of cocaine valued at an estimated Sh6 billion was seized by the police in Nairobi and Malindi in 2006.
READ MORE: Who are the drug lords sending Kenyan women abroad with cocaine?
