Mombasa court orders 10-day detention of seven soldiers in Sh192 million meth probe
Investigating officer PC Isaac Njoroge told the court that searches on the suspects’ residences and work stations led to the recovery of additional narcotics and 11 phones of various models.
Mombasa court orders 10-day detention of seven soldiers in Sh192 million meth probe
Seven Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers linked to a Sh192 million methamphetamine trafficking investigation will remain in custody for 10 days as detectives complete ongoing forensic examinations, a Mombasa court has ruled.
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Senior Resident Magistrate Gladys Ollimo granted the detention order after the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) requested more time to finalise forensic work, including the analysis of electronic devices recovered from the suspects.
The soldiers, Duke Nyamwaya, Juma Mwinyifaki, Michael Kariuki, Elijah Mbogo Gacog’u, James Ekiru, Abdulrehman Salad and Abdirahman Abdi Kuno, were arrested on December 11 in a joint operation involving officers from the DCI Headquarters and Mombasa Regional Headquarters.
Investigating officer PC Isaac Njoroge told the court that searches on the suspects’ residences and work stations led to the recovery of additional narcotics and 11 phones of various models, including Redmi, Tecno, Itel, Samsung Galaxy, Vivo and Oppo devices.
Magistrate Ollimo authorised the forensic extraction and analysis of all seized electronics, noting that the findings are expected to help establish communication trails and possible links to a broader trafficking network.
The court heard that the 25 kilograms of methamphetamine allegedly trafficked by the suspects, packed in whitish crystalline packets, had not yet undergone weighing, sampling or chemical analysis, with investigators saying immediate testing was not possible at the time of arrest.
The prosecution argued that releasing the soldiers would jeopardise the investigation, citing risks of witness interference, tampering with digital evidence, or possible coordination with accomplices still being pursued.
Prosecutors Yassir Mohammed and Brenda Oganda urged the court to consider the high value of the narcotics and the significant public interest in ensuring a thorough investigation. The court agreed, saying the scale of the case, the pending forensic work and the potential flight risk warranted extended detention.
The matter will be mentioned on December 22 for further directions.
The soldiers’ detention comes amid intensified scrutiny following a major multi-agency maritime operation on October 25, 2025, during which security teams intercepted a dhow off Kenya’s coastline carrying 1,024 kilograms of methamphetamine, also known as crystal meth.
In a statement issued by KDF Strategic Communications, the military dismissed claims that some of its personnel stole part of the narcotics after the seizure.
According to the Forces, the drugs were offloaded and moved ashore under the supervision of a combined security team. However, reports emerged alleging that certain KDF officers may have concealed a portion of the consignment for personal gain.
“It has been alleged that during the operation, and as the narcotics were being offloaded for transport ashore, some KDF personnel involved in the mission stole and concealed a portion of the narcotics for personal gain,” reads the statement.
KDF denied the allegations, insisting that the full consignment remains secure.
“We wish to clarify 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 military added.
KDF further confirmed that several personnel suspected of involvement in the alleged theft were under active investigation.
“The suspected KDF personnel are currently under investigation by the relevant authorities. Should the allegations be substantiated, appropriate disciplinary and legal measures will be taken in accordance with the law,” the Force said.
The military emphasised its commitment to transparency, noting that investigations were underway to determine the authenticity of the claims. It remains unclear what prompted the clarification at this stage.
The seizure, one of the largest maritime narcotics interceptions in recent years, has drawn international attention and highlighted the region’s continued efforts to combat transnational organised crime along the East African coast.
Six Iranian nationals arrested aboard the dhow are already facing trafficking charges.
Interpol confirmed that the maritime operation followed intelligence shared by the Regional Narcotics Interagency Fusion Cell (RNIFC) in Bahrain and the Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC) in Seychelles. The agency also facilitated support from the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), which deployed two officers to assist with search operations and communication with the crew.
In total, authorities recovered 769 packets containing a crystal substance weighing 1,024 kilograms. Forensic analysis by the government chemist confirmed it was methamphetamine with a purity level of 98 per cent. Kenyan experts estimate the drugs to be worth more than Sh8.2 billion, or USD 63 million.
Investigations are continuing under the Anti-Narcotics Unit, with security agencies noting that the coordinated operation demonstrated the importance of international intelligence-sharing in countering maritime drug trafficking and strengthening safety across the Indian Ocean.
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