The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has secured guilty pleas from six Iranian nationals in a major high-seas narcotics case involving more than a tonne of methamphetamine valued at Sh8.2 billion, marking a significant milestone in Kenya’s fight against transnational organized crime and drug trafficking.
The six suspects—Jaseem Darzadeh Nia, Nadeem Jadgal, Hassan Baloch, Raheem Baksh, Imran Baloch and Imtiyaz Daryay—pleaded guilty to trafficking 1,036 kilograms of methamphetamine before Chief Magistrate Anthony Mwicigi at the Shanzu Law Courts.
They were charged with trafficking in narcotic drugs contrary to Section 4(a)(ii) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, 1994, as amended in 2022.
The accused were arrested aboard a stateless vessel named Mashaallah, which had been under surveillance by international authorities for suspected involvement in narcotics trafficking within the Western Indian Ocean region.
The suspicious vessel was intercepted on October 23, 2025, approximately 630 kilometres east of Mombasa, following a coordinated operation by a multi-agency security team. The operation involved officers from the Kenya Navy, Kenya Coast Guard Service, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
After interception, the vessel was escorted to the Port of Mombasa for further inspection. Investigators subsequently made a miscellaneous court application seeking orders for the detention and search of the vessel.
The search led to the discovery of 769 packages containing a crystalline substance weighing approximately 1,024 kilograms. Preliminary analysis by the Government Chemist confirmed the substance to be methamphetamine, a highly addictive synthetic stimulant commonly produced in illegal laboratories.
Methamphetamine is typically found in powder, tablet or crystal form and is known to cause intense euphoria, increased alertness and heightened physical and mental stimulation, while posing severe health and social risks.
The suspects were formally arrested on October 25, 2025, and arraigned in court after completion of extensive investigations by Kenyan authorities in collaboration with international partners.
During the court proceedings, the DPP’s prosecution team applied for two weeks to organize and present the facts of the case. The prosecution requested that the hearing be scheduled for January 30, 2026, at the Kenya Navy base in Mtongwe, where the seized vessel and bulky drug exhibits are currently being held.
The court was also asked to remand the accused persons at Shimo La Tewa Prison pending the hearing and presentation of facts.
By Sitati Reagan
