Kenyan authorities have carried out one of the country’s largest-ever narcotics seizures, intercepting more than one tonne of crystal methamphetamine in a high-seas operation backed by INTERPOL. Six crew members were arrested aboard a suspicious, flagless dhow intercepted about 340 nautical miles east of Mombasa on October 21. According to Kenyan officials, the bust followed weeks of coordinated intelligence sharing between the Regional Narcotics Interagency Fusion Cell in Bahrain and the Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC) in Seychelles. The operation was supported by Kenya’s Navy, INTERPOL, and anti-narcotics units, marking a milestone in regional maritime cooperation.
After the interception, the vessel was escorted to Mombasa and handed over to a multi-agency command centre, chaired by the Deputy Commander of the Kenyan Navy. INTERPOL helped ensure that evidence handling met international standards and facilitated real-time coordination between countries involved. A search of the vessel uncovered 769 packets of crystal meth weighing 1,024 kilograms, hidden within sealed compartments. Laboratory tests by Kenya’s Government Chemist confirmed the drugs’ 98% purity, giving the shipment an estimated street value of KES 8 billion (USD 63 million). The six crew members, all foreign nationals whose identities have not yet been released, were detained and are expected to face drug trafficking charges under Kenyan law. The country’s Anti-Narcotics Unit has taken over the investigation.
Kenya’s Interior Ministry hailed the seizure as proof of the country’s growing capacity to combat transnational organized crime and protect regional maritime security. INTERPOL officials also praised the operation as “a model for joint action against global drug trafficking networks operating in the Indian Ocean.” The seizure highlights the increasing use of East African maritime routes by international drug syndicates, with authorities warning that traffickers are shifting tactics as land routes through the Horn of Africa face tighter surveillance.
