Six Iranian nationals were Monday arraigned at the Shanzu Law Courts in Mombasa for their involvement in the trafficking of a massive consignment of methamphetamine valued at approximately Sh8.2 billion.
The accused are linked to the seizure of 1,036.044 kilograms of methamphetamine, intercepted in October 2025 during a high-stakes multi-agency maritime operation off the Kenyan coast.
Security officers intercepted a stateless dhow in the Indian Ocean, leading to the arrest of the six Nia Jasem Darzadeh, Jadgal Nadeem Abdulgani, Baloch Hassan, Baloch Imran Mustafa, Baksh Rahim Goharam, and Daryayi Imtiyaz, aka Pamin, onboard.
The charges were formally read after the conclusion of a Miscellaneous Application that had earlier been filed seeking custodial orders.
All six accused persons pleaded guilty to the charges.
The court ordered that the suspects be remanded at Shimo La Tewa GK Prison pending the reading of facts, scheduled for January 30, 2026.
This case highlights the unwavering resolve of the country’s security agencies to dismantle transnational narcotics networks and protect the nation from the devastating effects of illicit drugs.
Prosecution told the court the narcotics were concealed aboard a stateless vessel named Mashaallah, a common strategy used by transnational criminal networks to evade detection and jurisdiction.
The accused were arrested on October 25, 2025, and arraigned in court on January 12, 2026, following extensive investigations.
The charges were preferred under Section 4(a)(ii) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, 1994, as amended in 2022, which the prosecution said has significantly strengthened Kenya’s legal framework against large-scale drug trafficking.
The DPP’s team applied for two weeks to organize and present the facts, requesting the proceedings be held on January 30, 2026, at the Kenya Navy base in Mtongwe, where the seized vessel and bulky drug exhibits are being held.
