“Dark Vessel Busted”- Six Iranians in Court Over Ksh 8 Billion Drug Haul

Six Iranian nationals have been charged at the Shanzu Law Courts for trafficking drugs worth Ksh 8 billion. The six were arrested after a dramatic ocean chase that ended at Kilindini Port, Mombasa.

The suspects –  Jasem Darzadeh Nia, Nadeem Jadgal, Imran Baloch, Hassan Baloch, Rahim Baksh and Imtiyaz Daryayi  were captured on October 24, 2025. A multi-agency team intercepted their vessel in the Indian Ocean. Officers found 769 packages of crystalline substances suspected to be synthetic narcotics. Tests confirmed the drugs as methamphetamine.

The operation began after the Kenya Navy spotted a suspicious vessel moving without identification, about 630 kilometers east of Mombasa. Naval officers tracked the boat and escorted it to Kilindini Port. The haul was then tested and confirmed as narcotics.

In court, prosecutors asked for more time to verify the interpreter’s credentials. They also requested an independent interpreter to ensure fairness in the trial. The court ordered the six suspects to remain in custody at the Port Police Station until Tuesday, October 28.

DCI Director Mohammed Amin and Kenya Navy Deputy Commander Brigadier Sankale Kiswaa confirmed the success of the operation. They said the arrest marked a big win in Kenya’s war on drug trafficking.

Investigations are ongoing to identify the source of the drugs and the local contacts behind the smuggling. Authorities are also tracing the shipment’s intended destination.

Kenya’s coast has become a major route for international drug cartels. Security agencies have now increased patrols in the Indian Ocean to block such operations.

The Ksh 8 billion seizure is one of Kenya’s biggest drug busts in recent years. It has drawn global attention to the country’s fight against transnational crime. Officials say the crackdown will continue until all drug networks along the East African coast are dismantled.