The Kenya Navy and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Mohamed Amin on Saturday revealed details of how Kenyan authorities intercepted a ship and seized more than 1,000 kilo of methamphetamine – a laboratory-manufactured synthetic drug valued at Sh8.2 billion.
The multi-agency team comprised the Anti-Narcotics Unit, the Kenya Navy Coast Guard, Port Police, the National Intelligence Service, the Kenya Revenue Authority and Kenya Ports Authority Police.
“The fight against drug trafficking is an international effort, and we thank the Kenya Navy and other transnational drug enforcement officers for assisting in combating drugs,” Mr Amin said.
Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohammed Amin.
Photo credit: Jeff Angote | Nation Media Group
“Cooperation with other regional teams made it possible to intercept the vessel, whose suspicious activities had been on our radar in the western Indian Ocean circuit.”
The stateless vessel, crewed by six Iranians, was intercepted by an international multi-agency team about 630 kilometres east of Mombasa and escorted to the port.
Kenya Navy Deputy Commander Brig Sankale Kiswaa said the vessel had been tracked during the ongoing campaign dubbed Bahari Safi but was intercepted before reaching shore.
“In the operation by the multi-agency team and international police, we arrested the six Iranians who were escorted to Mombasa. Upon searching the hull, we found 1,024 kilogrammes of methamphetamine valued at more than Sh8.2 billion,” Brig Kiswaa said.
Some of the 1,024 kilogrammes of synthetic drugs seized from six Iranian crew members aboard a vessel. The haul, estimated to be worth Sh8.2 billion, was seized about 650 km off the shore of Mombasa.
Photo credit: Wachira Mwangi | Nation Media Group
“We shall continue to interrogate the six suspects, but we are yet to know the source of the drugs. The consignment was destined for one of the local markets,” he added.
The six suspects will be arraigned on Monday. According to the DCI, sampling by the Government Chemist confirmed the substance to be 98 per cent pure methamphetamine.
Kenya Coast Guard Director Bruno Shioso.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Methamphetamine is part of a group of drugs known as amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and is usually manufactured in illegal labs. It comes as a powder, tablet or crystal resembling shards of glass and can be swallowed, sniffed, smoked or injected.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the drug induces feelings of euphoria, heightened energy and alertness while suppressing hunger and fatigue.
However, users may experience increased heart rate, high blood pressure, sweating, and irritability.
In large doses, it can cause panic attacks, convulsions, seizures, and even death.
Long-term use can lead to malnutrition, severe weight loss and psychological dependence.
Once chronic users stop taking it, they often experience prolonged sleep followed by depression.
