Security agencies in Mombasa have apprehended six Iranian nationals after intercepting a boat ferrying drugs worth more than Ksh8 billion.
The vessel was intercepted on Saturday, October 26, about 630 kilometres east of the coast of Mombasa by a joint team comprising the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Kenya Navy, the Kenya Coast Guard, and NACADA, before being escorted to the port.
The boat was put on radar by Kenyan security agencies after regional and international partners alerted them about a suspicious boat roaming in the Western Indian Ocean.
DCI Director Mohamed Amin said that after the vessel was impounded, security agencies obtained a court order allowing them to inspect its contents.
During the operation, the security agencies managed to seize 769 packages of methamphetamine with an estimated value of Ksh8.2 billion.
"Consequently, today, 25 October 2025, officers from the National Police Service conducted a search of the vessel and discovered 769 packages of methamphetamine with an estimated value of Ksh 8.2 billion," NPS stated.
"Six foreign nationals were arrested and are in custody, pending arraignment in court, while the consignment was seized and secured as evidence. The National Police Service commends the officers involved in the operation for their commitment and professionalism," it added.
Authorities have said that they have kick-started a probe to determine the exact origin and destination of the drugs.
"It may be too early for me to say that the destination was point A or B; it is still under investigation, but certainly it was destined anywhere in this region, and in terms of the source, the vessel was stateless and it had no flags," Amin said.
During the same day, police in Vihiga County apprehended one suspect in the Mpaka Village area in possession of 320 rolls of cannabis.
NPS affirmed that it will not backstep in its crackdown against drug dealers across the country.
"The suspect was escorted to the police station and placed in custody, pending processing and arraignment in court. The drugs were seized and secured as evidence at the same station," NPS stated.
