Mombasa: Kenya Navy Seized Drugs Estimated to be KSh 8.2b

• A multi-agency team led by the Kenya Navy seized a vessel linked to drug trafficking off the coast of Kenya
• Deputy Commander of the Kenyan Navy, Brigadier Sankale Kiswaa, who led the multi-agency team, shared details of the operation
• The Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) also gave information about the steps taken after the operation

Mombasa – A multi-agency team led by the Kenya Navy has seized a vessel carrying methamphetamine worth KSh 8.2 billion.

In a statement, the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) said six Iranian nationals were arrested in a major anti-narcotics operation in the Indian Ocean.

How the Kenyan Navy seized drugs in Mombasa

According to KDFa multi-agency team found 1024 kilos of methamphetamine in an operation that took place 630 kilometers off the coast of Mombasa.

“The Kenyan Navy intercepted an unregistered vessel codenamed ‘IGOR’ and seized 1024 kilograms of methamphetamine with a street value of approximately 8.2 billion shillings, 630 kilometers East of Mombasa Coast. The stateless vessel, which was under the surveillance of international drug enforcement agencies, had repeatedly evaded initial search until it was captured by the Kenyan Navy,” KDF said on Sunday, October 26.

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Deputy Commander of the Kenyan Navy, Brigadier Sankale Kiswaa, who is the leader of the multi-agency team, said the operation was carried out under the code name BAHARI SAFI 2025.01.

In an operation named BAHARI SAFI 2025.01 carried out under the Safe Seas Africa (SSA) Programme, the Kenya Navy deployed a Kenya Navy Ship (KNS) which intercepted a stateless vessel involved in the drug trade.

KNS SHUPAVU, in collaboration with RCOC (Seychelles), RMIFC (Madagascar), and the Republic of Seychelles (providing MPA monitoring), escorted the seized ship and its crew to the port of Mombasa.

There, the ship was handed over to a multi-agency team for further investigation and prosecution of the six suspects, and court documents have been obtained for inspection and testing.

This operation demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement agencies to combat international crime in the Western Indian Ocean.

In a statement, the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) said an investigation has been launched to identify the owner of the vessel.

“Investigations are ongoing to determine the source and purpose of 769 packages containing a crystalline substance, identified as methamphetamine. The seized drugs have a street value of KSh 8.2 billion,” DCI it said.

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How NACADA seized illegal alcohol worth KSh 1.2m

In other news, the National Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse Authority (NACADA) announced the confiscation of fake alcohol worth KSh 1.2 million.

Officers from the authority worked in collaboration with officers from the National Police Service and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

The raid worked to target a network that was distributing counterfeit alcohol and a business that was identified as having a negative impact on youth in the Keumbu area.

During the search, the officers succeeded in confiscating products that included popular but fake brands that posed serious health risks to consumers.

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Source: TUKO.co.ke