{"id":56067,"date":"2025-10-26T15:12:31","date_gmt":"2025-10-26T15:12:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/kenya-navy-intercepts-stateless-vessel-carrying-63m-narcotics-six-iranians\/"},"modified":"2025-10-26T15:10:54","modified_gmt":"2025-10-26T15:10:54","slug":"kenya-navy-intercepts-stateless-vessel-carrying-63m-narcotics-six-iranians","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/kenya-navy-intercepts-stateless-vessel-carrying-63m-narcotics-six-iranians\/","title":{"rendered":"Kenya Navy intercepts stateless vessel carrying $63M narcotics, six Iranians arrested"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The operation unfolded during a routine patrol approximately 630 kilometres off the coast of Mombasa, when the Kenya Navy set its sights on the vessel, reportedly named \u201cMash Allah\u201d and codenamed \u2018IGOR\u2019. On board were six Iranian nationals: Jasem Darzadeh, Nadeem Jadgal, Imran Baloch, Hassan Baloch, Rahim Bakshi, and Imtiaz Daryayi.<\/p>\n<p>A thorough search of the vessel revealed 769 packages concealed in various compartments. Laboratory tests confirmed the contents to be 1,024 kilograms of methamphetamine.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities say the interception marks a major victory in Kenya\u2019s fight against transnational organised crime.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Kenya Navy successfully intercepted a vessel of interest suspected of involvement in narcotics trafficking,\u201d said Brigadier Sankale Kiswaa, Deputy Commander of the Kenya Navy and leader of the multi-agency team.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This operation showcases the commitment of law enforcement agencies to combating transnational crimes within the Western Indian Ocean.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The stateless dhow had reportedly been under surveillance by international drug enforcement agencies and had previously evaded multiple crackdowns. Its interception was part of Operation Bahari Safi 2025.01, conducted under the Safe Seas Africa (SSA) Programme. <\/p>\n<p>The operation also involved coordinated support from the Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC) in Seychelles, the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC) in Madagascar, and maritime surveillance assistance from Seychelles.<\/p>\n<p>After the vessel was escorted to Mombasa port by the Kenya Navy Ship (KNS) SHUPAVU, the six suspects were handed over to a multi-agency team for further investigations and legal processing. Court warrants have been obtained for additional inspection and testing of the seized narcotics, which are now secured as exhibits.<\/p>\n<p>The coastal city of Mombasa has, in recent years, faced rising challenges from narcotics entering through its ports. A 2016 baseline survey by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) revealed Mombasa had some of the highest rates of substance dependency among coastal counties, including alcohol, tobacco, khat, cannabis, heroin, and cocaine. The city also has a significant number of injecting drug users.<\/p>\n<p>While this latest seizure is a significant achievement, questions remain about who is orchestrating such high-value consignments and the networks behind them.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-96748 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/img-20251026-wa0006.jpg\" alt=\"A multi-agency team led by the Kenya Navy on Saturday intercepted a stateless vessel transporting narcotics worth an estimated $63 million (Frw 92 billion).\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-96742 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/img-20251026-wa0008-1170x659.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-96743 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/g4iu6kzwsaanfx8.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-96749 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/img-20251026-wa0007.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-96747 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/img-20251026-wa0009-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-96745 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/img-20251026-wa0010.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-96743 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/g4iu6kzwsaanfx8.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-96746 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/img-20251026-wa0005-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"Six Iranian nationals were arrested in the operation.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-96744 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/img-20251026-wa0011-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In what is being described as one of the largest drug busts in recent history, a multi-agency team led by the Kenya Navy on Saturday intercepted a stateless vessel transporting narcotics worth an estimated $63 million (Frw 92 billion), arresting six Iranian nationals in the process.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":2000096750,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[75],"byline":[192],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-56067","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-homenews","byline-wycliffe-nyamasege"],"bylines":[{"id":192,"name":"Wycliffe Nyamasege","slug":"wycliffe-nyamasege","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":131}],"contributors":[{"id":192,"name":"Wycliffe Nyamasege","slug":"wycliffe-nyamasege","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default 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