The Court has extended the detention of the Iranian crew in Ksh 8 billion drug trafficking probe following their arrest in Mombasa.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) filed a fresh application requesting the Court to continue holding six Iranian nationals at the center of a high-profile drug trafficking investigation until January 12th, 2026.

The Shanzu Magistrate’s Court approved the DPP plea after Chief Magistrate Anthony Muchigi made a ruling.

“Chief Magistrate Antony Muchigi granted the request after prosecutors argued that the inquiry, focused on narcotic substances valued at more than Ksh 8 billion, remains complex and involves extensive forensic and transnational investigative steps,” DPP said.

When Were Suspects Arrested

The six suspects were arrested on October 24th, 2025, and they will return to court in January when the DPP is expected to announce whether they will be formally charged.

During their arrest, authorities seized 769 packages of crystalline material weighing 1,035.986 kilograms believed to be synthetic narcotic drugs.

“The six were apprehended aboard a dark vessel intercepted by the Kenya Navy at Kilindini Port. Authorities seized 769 packages of crystalline material weighing 1,035.986 kilograms, believed to be synthetic narcotic drugs. Investigators are probing the suspects for trafficking in narcotic drugs contrary to Section 4(a)(ii) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, 1994,” DPP revealed.

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Orders of the Court

Earlier, the court had ordered investigators to present the recovered substances to the Government Chemist for analysis and to subject the suspects’ mobile phones to forensic examination at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters.

However, the investigating officer said the nature of the seized items and the suspects involved needs additional time to complete the inquiry.

“According to the investigating officer, the scale of the operation, the nature of the seized substances, and the suspected international networks involved necessitate additional time to complete the inquiry,” DPP explained.

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The prosecution stated that the case touches on national security and forms part of wider efforts to combat transnational organized crime.

The Iranian nationals will remain in custody at the Port Police Station to make way for investigations, and they will appear in court again on January 12th, 2026, for a final hearing.

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Court gravel for illustration purposes. PHOTO/FILE