KISUMU, Kenya — The government will destroy a major narcotics consignment worth Sh8 billion that was seized in a multi-agency operation in the Indian Ocean, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced on Sunday.
Speaking during a church service in Kisumu County, Murkomen said the public destruction of the drugs would demonstrate the government’s resolve to stamp out narcotics trafficking and other transnational crimes.
“As you saw yesterday, our multi-agency team caught wind of substances which were being ferried by Iranians on our waters,” Murkomen stated.
“The suspects will be taken to court, and very soon you will see us destroying those illicit substances because we have resolved as a nation to fight all kinds of vices destroying our people.”
According to the Interior Ministry, six Iranian nationals were arrested and remain in police custody following the seizure. Initial forensic tests confirmed that the 1,024-kilogram cargo contained methamphetamine with 98 per cent purity — one of the largest drug interceptions in Kenya’s history.
The narcotics, estimated to have a street value of Sh8 billion, were discovered aboard a vessel that had drawn the attention of Kenyan and international security agencies after being flagged for suspicious movements in the Western Indian Ocean.
Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin said the vessel was impounded after intelligence from regional and global partners prompted surveillance and subsequent interception. A court order was then obtained to inspect the consignment.
Murkomen lauded the coordinated efforts of Kenya’s maritime security units, affirming that the government was enhancing surveillance and strengthening cooperation with international agencies to dismantle narcotic supply chains operating through the Indian Ocean corridor.
“This operation is a clear warning to those using our territorial waters for drug trafficking — Kenya is not a safe route for criminal networks,” the CS said.
The seizure marks a significant milestone in Kenya’s war on drugs, underscoring the government’s commitment to curbing illicit trafficking and safeguarding national security.
