In a major victory against international narcotics trafficking, the Kenya Navy and Kenya Coast Guard intercepted a vessel ferrying methamphetamine worth Ksh8.2 billion in the Indian Ocean. The successful operation took place approximately 630 kilometres off the coast of Mombasa, marking one of the largest drug seizures in Kenya’s maritime history.
According to security officials, the suspicious vessel was detected in international waters and trailed before being apprehended. The Kenya Navy escorted the vessel under armed guard to the Port of Mombasa, where it was handed over to law enforcement authorities for inspection and further investigation.
Inside the vessel, officers discovered 769 packages of crystalline substances weighing approximately 1,024 kilograms, later confirmed to be methamphetamine. The consignment, believed to have originated from a major drug-producing region in Asia, was likely destined for distribution networks across East Africa and beyond. The seizure highlights Kenya’s growing role as a key transit route in the global drug trade, prompting enhanced surveillance and maritime patrols in the region.
Security agencies described the interception as a major breakthrough in the fight against narcotics smuggling and substance abuse in Kenya. The joint operation involved coordinated efforts between the Kenya Navy, the Kenya Coast Guard Service, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). Officials stated that the operation required days of monitoring and intelligence gathering before the vessel was intercepted.
Six foreign nationals, suspected to be part of an international drug syndicate, were arrested during the operation. They are currently in custody awaiting arraignment in court. Authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation to establish the origin and intended destination of the methamphetamine shipment, as well as the networks involved in its trafficking.
Preliminary assessments indicate that the Ksh8.2 billion consignment was likely part of a larger transnational operation targeting the East African coastline. The discovery underscores the need for strengthened maritime security and intelligence-sharing mechanisms to combat organized crime.
Kenya’s security agencies reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying surveillance and cracking down on criminal networks using the Indian Ocean as a trafficking route. The interception serves as a powerful warning to drug traffickers operating in the region and demonstrates Kenya’s growing capacity to safeguard its territorial waters from illicit trade.
