Court Grants DPP 21 More Days to Detain Six Iranians in Ksh8.2 Billion Methamphetamine Probe

 

By Brian

A Shanzu court has granted the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) an additional 21 days to continue holding six Iranian nationals suspected of involvement in a Ksh8.2 billion methamphetamine trafficking operation.

The six suspects—Jasem Darzaen Nia, Nadeem Jadgai, Imran Baloch, Hassan Baloch, Rahim Baksh, and Imtiyaz Daryayi—were intercepted in the Indian Ocean with 769 packages of crystalline substances suspected to be methamphetamine, weighing 1,035.986 kilograms.

During the court mention, the prosecution argued that investigators are still following critical leads before submitting the case file to the DPP for further action. Authorities claim the suspects are linked to a highly organised transnational cartel that uses maritime routes to smuggle synthetic drugs into the region.

Detectives from the Anti-Narcotics Unit reportedly recovered seven electronic devices, including a GPS tracker, which are believed to contain crucial intelligence on the origin of the cargo, trafficking routes, and potential financiers behind the operation.

The prosecution cautioned the court that releasing the suspects at this stage could compromise the multiagency and internationally coordinated investigation, which involves sensitive digital evidence and complex cross-border connections.

The suspects have been in custody for three weeks following the maritime operation that led to the seizure. Previously, the court authorised investigators to submit the confiscated substances to the Government Chemist for analysis and to forward the suspects’ mobile phones to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters for forensic examination.

Investigating officers confirmed that the six are being probed for trafficking in narcotic drugs, contrary to Section 4(a)(ii) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, 1994.