Six Iranian Nationals Admit to Drug Trafficking but Contest Methamphetamine Weight in Sh8.2 Billion Seizure

Six Iranian crew members apprehended in the Indian Ocean with a massive methamphetamine consignment have entered guilty pleas to drug trafficking charges while challenging the amount of narcotics listed in court documents.

The accused—Jasem Darzaen Nia, Nadeem Jadgai, Imran Baloch, Hassan Baloch, Rahim Baksh, and Imtiyaz Daryayi—appeared before Shanzu Magistrate’s Court where they acknowledged involvement in trafficking the illegal substance but raised objections over the recorded weight of the seizure.

Dispute Over Drug Quantity

Court records indicate the six individuals trafficked 1,036.044 kilogrammes of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of Sh8.2 billion. The defendants, however, maintain the actual amount was approximately 800 kilogrammes.

Jasem contended that law enforcement officers included the weight of packaging materials in their measurements. His co-accused Hassan informed the court they would accept the charges if the narcotics were weighed without their containers.

Prosecutors countered that the accused were conflating the number of packages with the actual drug weight. The state counsel explained that investigators seized 769 sealed packages and weighed them in their original state, asserting that proper procedures were followed during measurement.

The presiding magistrate assured the defendants that fresh weighing would be conducted under court supervision to settle the disagreement. The court also indicated plans to conduct a site visit to examine both the evidence and the vessel, noting that the exhibits were too substantial to bring into the courtroom.

Details of the Arrest

According to prosecution evidence, the crime occurred between October 11 and October 20, 2025, on international waters roughly 350 nautical miles east of Mombasa Port.

The suspects were traveling aboard an unregistered vessel without national affiliation called MASHAALI AH, bringing it under Kenyan legal jurisdiction.

Imran acknowledged having the substance but claimed it was lawful in their home country and intended to help people stay alert rather than for abuse. He disputed comparisons between the substance and drugs like cocaine or heroin.

Daryayi similarly accepted responsibility while questioning the quantity. He referenced previous incidents where their colleagues were arrested in France with similar substances, which were confiscated before they were released. He expressed confusion about why they faced prosecution in Kenya.

Prosecution’s Request

The state requested a two-week period to organize and present case facts, proposing that fact-reading occur at the Kenya Navy facility in Mtongwe where both the vessel and drugs are secured, given the size of the physical evidence.

Prosecutors also sought to have the accused remanded at Shimo La Tewa Prison pending the fact-reading session.

Background of the Operation

The six foreign nationals were formally charged after spending nearly two months in custody while investigators traced the origin and intended destination of the narcotics.

Officers participating in the operation reported that the crew disregarded multiple commands from the Kenya Navy to halt, necessitating a boarding operation under the Safe Seas Africa initiative with assistance from a Seychelles Coast Guard surveillance aircraft.

Following the vessel’s escort to Kilindini Port, detectives secured a search warrant and discovered 769 packages of methamphetamine exceeding one tonne in weight. Investigators suspect the dhow is connected to a criminal network operating along the East African coastline as part of an international syndicate, with the shipment destined for regional distribution.

The seizure consisted of crystalline methamphetamine with 98 percent purity, hidden inside black plastic bags wrapped with yellow tape marked “100 per cent roasted and grounded Arabica coffee.”

Related Charges Against Navy Personnel

The Iranian nationals faced charges just days after ten individuals, including eight Kenya Navy servicemen involved in intercepting the vessel, were charged with drug trafficking following the disappearance of a portion of the consignment valued at Sh330 million.

Legal documents filed by the Anti-Narcotic Police Unit and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions reveal that officers diverted 38,756 grams of crystalline methamphetamine from the larger shipment weighing 1,036 kilograms during the maritime operation conducted on October 19.

The defendants in that matter include Juma Mwinyifaki, Peter Kipngetich Tonui, Duke Nyamwaya, Elijah Mbogo, James Ekiru, Abdirahman Abdi Kuno, Michael Peter Kariuki, and Abdulrehman Salad Jara, along with two civilians, Mustafa Salim Johari and Dinah Moraa Obwocha.

Mwinyifaki is accused of trafficking 2,601 grams of narcotics worth Sh20.8 million, allegedly concealed in vegetation at Mtongwe Barracks in Likoni on November 27. Tonui and Johari face conspiracy to traffic charges, with prosecutors alleging they conspired on November 25 at Majengo Mapya in Mvita to traffic 6,194 grammes of methamphetamine valued at Sh49.5 million, in addition to individual trafficking charges.

Nyamwaya, Moraa, and Mbogo are charged with conspiracy to traffic 14,321 grams valued at Sh114.6 million. Nyamwaya and Mbogo also face individual charges for trafficking 5,380 grams worth Sh43 million, while Nyamwaya and Moraa face separate charges involving 8,941 grams valued at Sh71.5 million, allegedly stored in residential properties.

Ekiru and Kuno are charged with conspiracy to traffic 1,319 grammes of narcotics worth Sh10.5 million, plus additional charges for storage. Kariuki and Jara face conspiracy charges involving 2,535 grams of methamphetamine valued at approximately Sh20.2 million. All defendants in the related case entered not guilty pleas.

Investigators stated the charges resulted from an internal compromise during the maritime seizure, where officers responsible for securing the consignment allegedly diverted portions before officially documenting it as evidence.

Bond Terms for Navy Personnel

Last Thursday, the Mombasa Magistrate’s Court released the former servicemen, who are no longer with the Kenya Defence Forces, on Sh5 million bond each with two sureties of similar value. Alternatively, the court permitted cash bail of Sh3 million each with two contact persons.

The court determined that while the accused had fulfilled pre-charge bond requirements of Sh500,000, the filing of formal charges substantially changed the case circumstances, necessitating more stringent bond conditions.

The magistrate noted that investigations were concluded and serious charges filed, heightening the risk of absconding or justice interference. The court recognized that suspects had honored initial bond terms, appeared for plea-taking, and showed stable family connections and known residences.

However, the magistrate emphasized that bond terms are not compensation for prior compliance and must be reevaluated at each procedural stage. While acknowledging the accused are family providers with dependants, the court stated these personal factors must be balanced against the gravity of the offenses, potential sentences, and public interest in ensuring trial attendance.

The servicemen and civilians were arrested on December 11, 2025, following a joint operation by officers from the Anti-Narcotics Unit at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters and the Mombasa regional office.