Eastleigh Voice

Investigators probing a massive Ksh 8 billion drug bust off the coast of Kenya say they have uncovered critical digital evidence in the ongoing case involving six Iranian nationals. According to court documents, officers from the Anti‑Narcotics Unit retrieved seven electronic devices, including a GPS tracker, during their investigation, raising hopes that they can map out the origins, financing, and maritime routes of the smuggling operation. Kenyans
The six Iranians were detained after a joint operation involving the Kenya Navy, Kenya Coast Guard, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) intercepted a stateless vessel around 630 km east of Mombasa. Kenyans+2The Standard+2 On board, authorities recovered 769 packages of crystalline methamphetamine, which preliminary analysis suggests could be worth as much as Ksh 8.2 billion. The Standard+1 During a recent court session, prosecutors secured additional detention time, citing the need to fully analyse the devices and trace the syndicate’s cross-border networks. Kenyans+1
The GPS tracker — along with other digital tools — is viewed by investigators as a linchpin: it may help them pinpoint where the drug shipment came from, identify key players in the syndicate, and unravel a sophisticated maritime trafficking network. Kenyans Authorities say the operation is not purely local: intelligence points to an international cartel using Kenya’s Indian Ocean coastline as a transit corridor. Kenyans In the meanwhile, the court has agreed to hold the six in custody for at least 21 more days to avoid jeopardising critical leads. Kenyans
Security analysts and anti-narcotics officials are now calling for strengthened surveillance of Kenya’s waters, arguing that this bust underscores just how vulnerable the country is to global syndicates. They say that tracking devices and other data recovered can serve as a major step toward dismantling this high-level smuggling chain — but warn that momentum must be sustained. If successfully prosecuted, this case could mark a defining moment in Kenya’s fight against transnational drug trafficking.