The high-stakes trial of six Iranian nationals accused of trafficking methamphetamine valued at Ksh 8.2 billion has officially commenced at the Shanzu Law Courts. This follows one of the largest maritime drug seizures in East African history, involving a coordinated multinational operation across the Indian Ocean.
The suspects—identified as Jasem Darzadeh Nia, Rahim Baksh Goharam, Hassan Baloch, Imran Baloch Mustafa, Nadeem Jadgal Abdulgani, and Emtiyaz Daryayi—appeared before Shanzu Chief Magistrate Anthony Mwicigi on Tuesday. The prosecution, led by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Joseph Kimanthi, asserted that the vessel was not engaged in legitimate maritime activity but was part of a highly “organized trafficking operation.”
The Multinational Interception
The first witness to take the stand was Kenya Navy Lieutenant Colonel Joab Gitonga, who provided a detailed account of the stealth operation that led to the suspects’ arrest.
According to his testimony:
- Intelligence Gathering: On October 17, 2025, the Kenya Navy received intelligence via the Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC)—a maritime security hub for transnational crime—regarding two suspicious vessels, MV Igor and MV Chevy.
- Tracking and Interception: Intelligence suggested MV Igor was navigating toward the East African coast. With aerial support from a Seychelles Coast Guard patrol aircraft, the Kenyan Navy intercepted the vessel on October 20, 2025.
- Location: The interception occurred in international waters, approximately 350 nautical miles off the Kenyan coast.
The Search and Recovery
Lt. Col. Gitonga testified that the dhow, later identified as the Mashallah, exhibited several “red flag” indicators of illegal activity: it flew no national flag, failed to respond to radio communications, and appeared to be drifting aimlessly.
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Upon boarding the vessel, marine commandos discovered:
- Six crew members possessing Iranian identification but no official vessel registration papers.
- 769 packets of a white crystalline substance, initially suspected to be “ice.”
- Laboratory Confirmation: Subsequent forensic analysis confirmed the substance was over one tonne of methamphetamine.
Jurisdiction and Legal Arguments
A key point of the trial involves Kenya’s right to prosecute crimes committed in international waters. The prosecution argued that under constitutional provisions and international maritime law, Kenya has the jurisdiction to try the case because the narcotics were destined for the East African coast, posing a direct threat to national security.
The State intends to call a total of 12 witnesses, including maritime experts, forensic analysts, and investigators from the multi-agency team that processed the vessel upon its arrival at the Port of Mombasa.
The trial continues this week, with the court expected to hear further testimony regarding the chain of custody of the seized narcotics and the technical logs of the Mashallah. If convicted, the suspects face life imprisonment and massive financial penalties under Kenya’s stringent anti-narcotics laws.
