By Hassan Wekesa - Editor
Kenya, 15 November 2025 - The six Iranian nationals, who were arrested 0n 25 October 2025 while in possession of synthetic Methamphetamine, popularly known as 'meth', will remain in custody for another 21 days as prosecution continues to carry out investigations.
Prosecution told Shanzu court that more time is needed while they investigate a massive drugs smuggling case worth KSh 8.2 billion.
They successfully persuaded the court to grant more time to finish the job properly and dismantle the sharp international drugs gang.
In court on Friday, the prosecution told the judge that officers are following vital leads and must complete their work before the file goes to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for a final call.
The men – Jasem Darzaen Nia, Nadeem Jadgai, Imran Baloch, Hassan Baloch, Rahim Baksh and Imtiyaz Daryayi – were caught in the Indian Ocean with a large haul of lab-made meth in their stateless vessel 'MV Igor'.
The Kenya Navy had stopped the vessel approximately 630 km east of Mombasa, where a total of 769 packets, believed to be crystal meth, were recovered from hidden compartments.
Police believe the six are part of a highly organised worldwide cartel that moves man-made drugs into the region by boat.
During the operation, anti-narcotics officers grabbed seven electronic items, including a GPS tracker, alongside the drugs.
"The devices are believed to contain essential intelligence on the origin of the shipment, intended trafficking routes and the financiers behind the operation," the DPP said on Friday.
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These devices are expected to reveal where the shipment started, the route it was taking, and who is paying for it all.
The prosecution warned that freeing the suspects now would ruin a major joint operation with overseas partners, which depends on complex digital clues and connections across borders.
The Iranians have been in custody for three weeks since the raid, when crystal meth weighing more than 1,035 kg was seized.
At the previous hearing, the court allowed the substances to be sent to the Government Chemist for testing to confirm what they are.
The men’s mobile phones are also being examined by experts at DCI headquarters.
The investigating officer said the suspects face charges of trafficking narcotic drugs under Section 4(a)(ii) of the 1994 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act.
The case underlines Kenya’s position as a key stopping point for global drug smugglers, with authorities now increasing sea patrols to halt the trade.
The extra detention period gives the team space to fit the pieces together and possibly catch the bigger players in the network.
