Six Iranian nationals arrested in the Indian Ocean with methamphetamine valued at Sh8.2 billion are to remain in custody for a further 21 days as investigations into the source and ownership of the illegal consignment continue.
On Friday, the Shanzu court was informed that investigations were yet to be completed and that detectives required more time to tie up loose ends before the file is forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Renson Ingonga, for direction.
Detectives from the Anti-Narcotics Unit are investigating the foreigners Jasem Darzaen Nia, Nadeem Jadgai, Imran Baloch, Hassan Baloch, Rahim Baksh and Imtiyaz Daryayi, in relation to the offence of trafficking narcotics contrary to section 4(a)(ii) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act of 1994.
A new interpreter has also been engaged to ensure seamless communication between the court and the suspects, who mainly speak the Baluchi language.
The dhow, crewed by the Iranians, was seized on October 19 in a joint operation involving the Kenya Navy, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Anti-Narcotics Unit, the Kenya Coast Guard Service, the Kenya Revenue Authority, the Port Police, the National Intelligence Service and the Kenya Ports Authority Police.
Investigators are now relying on seven electronic devices recovered from the Iranians, including a GPS device, to trace the consignment’s owner and intended destination.
According to Inspector Shadrack Kemei of the Anti-Narcotics Unit, the devices are believed to contain vital information linking the suspects to financiers and accomplices within a sophisticated transnational drug network.
Police have obtained orders compelling the suspects to provide unlock codes for the devices to enable forensic analysis at the DCI headquarters in Nairobi.
Investigators believe communication retrieved from the devices will help establish ownership of the consignment, reveal contacts in other jurisdictions and expose the wider trafficking syndicate.
Inspector Kemei says preliminary findings point to a larger organised network responsible for moving synthetic narcotics along maritime routes.
“The information that may be recovered from the electronic devices is likely to assist in the apprehension of more suspects,” he said.
According to police, releasing the suspects before completion of investigations would jeopardise the multiagency investigation, which involves international coordination and handling of sensitive digital evidence.
The Anti-Narcotics Unit maintains that the case is unprecedented in scale and complexity, given the volume of the methamphetamine haul, estimated at Sh8.2 billion on the black market, and the sophisticated methods used to evade maritime detection.
The vessel, believed to belong to a drug cartel operating along the East African coast, was towed to Kilindini Port, where detectives obtained a search warrant that led to the recovery of more than 1,000 kilogrammes of methamphetamine, a synthetic drug whose long term use can cause malnutrition, severe weight loss and psychological dependence.
The seizure of the drugs in the Indian Ocean has once again placed Kenya on the international radar as a narcotics transit hub exploited by cartels to supply drugs across the world.
The destination of the dhow, named MV Mashallah, has not yet been disclosed, but authorities believe the shipment was intended for distribution within the region.
The stateless vessel was intercepted by an international multiagency team about 630 kilometres east of Mombasa and escorted to the Port of Mombasa for further processing.
The 1,024 kilogrammes of crystalline methamphetamine were concealed in black polythene bags wrapped with yellow tape labelled ‘100 percent roasted and grounded Arabica coffee.’
However, tests by the Government Chemist confirmed the drug to be 98 percent pure.
Methamphetamine belongs to a group of drugs known as amphetamine type stimulants and is commonly manufactured in illegal laboratories. It is sold as a powder, tablet or crystal resembling glass shards and can be swallowed, sniffed, smoked or injected.
This is the second largest narcotics haul in Kenya’s history after 1.1 tonnes of cocaine worth Sh6 billion were seized by police in Nairobi and Malindi in 2005.
In 2014, another vessel, MV Amin Darya (also known as Al Noor), was intercepted on the high seas carrying 377 kilogrammes of solid heroin, 33,200 litres of liquid heroin and 2,400 litres of heroin mixed diesel worth more than Sh1.3 billion.
Foreign nationals arrested on the vessel were tried and convicted at the magistrates’ court before being acquitted on appeal to the High Court two years later.
