In a stunning conclusion to one of Kenya's biggest narcotics cases, six Iranian nationals have pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine valued at KES 8.2 billion ($63 million). The plea was entered this morning at the Mombasa Law Courts, ending a high-stakes legal drama that began with a dramatic high-seas interception.

The suspects were arrested in July 2025 when Kenyan security forces, acting on intelligence from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), boarded their dhow in the Indian Ocean. A search of the vessel revealed 1.3 tonnes of high-grade meth concealed in secret compartments behind the fuel tanks.

The Deal

The guilty plea is part of a bargain with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). While details remain sealed, sources suggest the crew may have agreed to provide information on the "kingpins" behind the shipment in exchange for a lighter sentence. They faced life imprisonment; the plea deal likely negotiates this down to 15-20 years.

• The Route: Investigations revealed the drugs originated from the "Golden Crescent" (Pakistan-Iran border) and were destined for distribution across East Africa and Europe.
• The Destruction: The court has ordered the immediate incineration of the narcotics, scheduled for tomorrow under heavy security at the DCI forensic lab.

A Warning Shot

"This conviction sends a message that our waters are not a highway for death," said DPP Renson Ingonga. However, the fact that the vessel's owners and the local receivers remain at large points to the deep, transnational roots of the trade that one conviction cannot sever.