A seemingly ordinary arrest of a woman in Mombasa has peeled back the curtain on an alarming possibility: that members of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) may have stolen a part of the historic KES 8.2 billion ($63 million) methamphetamine seizure intercepted in the Indian Ocean in October.

The investigation, which now involves Military Police, threatens to cast a shadow over the country's security apparatus and its fight against transnational narcotics. For the average Kenyan, this raises urgent questions about the integrity of the very forces meant to protect them and whether a fortune in deadly drugs could be seeping back onto the streets.

The chain of events began last week when anti-narcotics detectives detained a woman in Mombasa for distributing crystal meth. What made this case explode was the packaging of the drugs found in her home; security sources noted it bore a striking resemblance to the 1,024-kilogram consignment seized from a stateless dhow on October 25, 2025. Investigators also recovered KES 700,000 in cash, suspected to be proceeds of the illicit trade.

From Street Deal to Military Probe

The suspect’s identity immediately escalated the situation. She was identified as the wife of an active KDF soldier and reportedly has family ties to a sitting Member of Parliament. This connection prompted the Military Police to take over the case, transferring her to a KDF facility for interrogation and triggering a wider probe into military personnel involved in the October seizure.

The original operation was a celebrated multi-agency success, involving the Kenya Navy, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and international partners, including the United States. They intercepted a vessel 630 kilometres offshore, arresting six Iranian nationals and seizing a haul so large it was described as a major blow to regional drug cartels.

Now, investigators are exploring the damning possibility that a portion of the narcotics was siphoned off at sea before the dhow was towed to Mombasa. One security source familiar with the probe acknowledged that “something fishy” may have happened during the interception.

KDF Confirms Investigation, Denies Loss

In a rare public statement, the KDF has acknowledged the gravity of the allegations. It confirmed that several of its personnel are under investigation by relevant authorities over the alleged theft. The statement emphasized that should the claims be substantiated, “appropriate disciplinary and legal measures will be taken in accordance with the law.”

Despite the ongoing probe into its ranks, the military has pushed back against claims that any of the seized narcotics are missing. The KDF statement clarified that “the entire 1,024 kilograms of methamphetamine offloaded ashore remains intact and is under continuous, round-the-clock protection by a dedicated multi-agency security team.”

• The Seizure: 1,024 kg of methamphetamine, valued at KES 8.2 billion.
• The Interception: Occurred on October 25, 2025, from a stateless dhow in the Indian Ocean.
• The Suspects: Six Iranian nationals were initially arrested on the vessel.
• The New Twist: A KDF soldier's wife was arrested in Mombasa, with drugs packaged similarly to the main haul.

While the KDF aims to reassure the public, the investigation itself points to a significant breach of trust. The case now hinges on what the military's internal inquiry uncovers and whether those suspected will face a court-martial. For Kenyans, the outcome will determine not only the fate of a few rogue officers but the credibility of the nation's war on drugs.