Six Iranians Plead Guilty to KSh 8.2 Billion Meth Trafficking on High Seas

By The COAST Reporter

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Six Iranian nationals have been charged with trafficking 1,036 kilograms of methamphetamine valued at Ksh8.2 billion.

Jaseem Darzadeh Nia, Nadeem Jadgal, Hassan Baloch, Raheem Baksh, Imran Baloch and Imtiyaz Daryay admitted the charge before Chief Magistrate Anthony Mwicigi.

The court heard that the offence was committed between October 17 and 20, 2025, on the high seas at Latitude 04° 46.79’S and Longitude 045° 27.42’E, about 350 nautical miles east of the Port of Mombasa.

The narcotics were concealed aboard a stateless vessel named Mashaallah.

The accused were arrested on October 25, 2025, without a warrant and presented in court on January 12, 2026.

The charge is contrary to Section 4(a)(ii) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, 1994, as amended in 2022.

The prosecution sought two weeks to organise and present the facts of the case, requesting that the facts be read on January 30 at the Kenya Navy base in Mtongwe where the vessel and drugs are being held, citing the bulky nature of the exhibits.

The prosecution also asked that the accused be remanded at Shimo La Tewa Prison pending the reading of facts.

During the proceedings, the accused disputed the weight of the drugs, claiming the consignment weighed 800 kilograms rather than the 1,036.044 kilograms stated in the charge sheet.

Prosecutors said the accused were confusing the number of packages with the actual weight, explaining that the drugs were seized in 769 intact packages and were properly weighed by police officers.

The court assured the accused that the consignment would be weighed afresh to confirm the quantity before sentencing.

The prosecution team is led by senior assistant director of public prosecutions Joseph Kimanthi, principal prosecution counsel Alex Ndiema and Susan Lewa.