Kenya's Shanzu Magistrate's Court has extended the detention of six Iranian nationals until January 12, 2026, for an alleged drug trafficking operation worth over KSh 8 billion.
This ruling, announced on December 4, 2025, by Chief Magistrate Antony Muchigi, followed a prosecution request by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), emphasizing the incident's complexity, involving forensic analysis and international cooperation.
The suspects faced charges under Section 4(a)(ii) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, 1994, for trafficking synthetic narcotics.
The suspects, who were arrested on October 24, 2025, will return to court on January 12, 2026, when the DPP is expected to announce whether they will be formally charged.
The six were arrested on a suspicious vessel intercepted by the Kenya Navy at Kilindini Port. Officers found 769 packages of a crystalline substance weighing about 1,036 kilograms, suspected to be synthetic drugs.
The crew, after arrest, had initial court appearances that began on October 27, 2025, with an initial 30-day remand granted on October 28.
Subsequent hearings have resulted in increased extensions; a 21-day prolongation was approved on November 15, 2025, to facilitate deeper inquiries into the drug's origin and destination.
The extension highlights the ongoing investigative needs, including forensic analysis of the suspects' mobile phones at DCI headquarters and laboratory testing of the seized samples by the Government Chemist.
According to the investigating officer, the scale of the operation, the nature of the seized substances, and the suspected international networks required additional time to complete the investigation.
The DPP emphasized that the case involved national security and is part of broader efforts to combat transnational organized crime. The suspects will remain detained at the Port Police Station as investigations continue.
A final determination on whether they will be charged is expected when they appear in court on January 12, 2026.
