By Andrew Kariuki
Six Iranian nationals have been arraigned before the Shanzu Law Courts in Mombasa and pleaded guilty to trafficking more than one tonne of methamphetamine valued at approximately Sh8.2 billion.
The accused; Jaseem Darzadeh Nia, Nadeem Jadgal Abdulgani, Hassan Baloch, Imran Baloch Mustafa, Raheem Baksh Goharam and Imtiyaz Daryayi, also known as Pamin appeared before Chief Magistrate Anthony Mwicigi, where the charges were formally read following the conclusion of a miscellaneous application that had sought custodial orders.
According to the prosecution, the offences were committed between October 17 and 20, 2025, on the high seas at coordinates about 350 nautical miles east of the Port of Mombasa.
The suspects are linked to the seizure of 1,036.044 kilograms of methamphetamine that was intercepted during a multi-agency maritime operation in the Indian Ocean.
Prosecutors told the court that the narcotics were concealed aboard a stateless dhow named Mashaallah, a method commonly used by transnational drug syndicates to evade detection and jurisdiction.
The vessel was intercepted in October 2025, leading to the arrest of the six suspects, who were later arraigned on January 12, 2026, after extensive investigations.
The charges were preferred under Section 4(a)(ii) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, 1994, as amended in 2022.
Following the guilty pleas, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions applied for time to organise and present the facts of the case, citing the scale of the seizure and the need to handle bulky exhibits.
The court granted the application and ordered that the accused be remanded at Shimo La Tewa GK Prison.
The matter is scheduled for January 30, 2026, when the facts will be read.
The prosecution has also indicated that the proceedings will be conducted at the Kenya Navy base in Mtongwe, where the seized vessel and drugs are being held.
