NAIROBI— In a victory against transnational drug trafficking, Kenyan authorities have seized over 1,024 kilograms of high-purity methamphetamine valued at more than Sh8.2 billion ($63 million) from a stateless vessel in the western Indian Ocean. The interception, 630 kilometers east of Mombasa involved a multi-agency team and marks one of East Africa’s largest narcotics busts to date.
The operation is part of the ongoing “Bahari Safi” campaign targeting suspicious maritime activities. The operation was spearheaded by the Kenya Navy Coast Guard in collaboration with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Anti-Narcotics Unit, Port Police, National Intelligence Service (NIS), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Police. International partners in transnational drug enforcement provided critical intelligence, enabling the vessel’s tracking before it could reach shore.
On Friday, the team boarded the dhow, arresting its six Iranian crew members under tight security. A thorough search of the hull uncovered 769 packages of crystalline shards—later confirmed by Government Chemist tests as 98% pure methamphetamine, a potent synthetic stimulant often abused for its euphoric effects.The suspects, now in custody at Mombasa face arraignment on Monday as interrogations intensify.
DCI Director Mohamed Amin hailed the collaborative effort: “The fight against drug trafficking is international. Cooperation with regional teams made this possible—we tracked their suspicious movements in the Indian Ocean circuit.”
He added that the consignment was likely destined for local markets, though the source remains under probe.
Kenya Navy Deputy Commander Brigadier Sankale Kiswaa emphasized the haul’s scale: “Upon searching, we found 1,024 kilograms worth over Sh8.2 billion. This disrupts organized crime networks.”
Experts warn methamphetamine’s rise in Kenya fuels addiction and crime waves, with street values soaring due to its addictive potency. Authorities vow sustained vigilance to dismantle supply chains. The vessel was escorted to Mombasa for further forensics, underscoring Kenya’s resolve in global anti-drug efforts.
