Six Iranian nationals held for 21 more days as police probe transnational drug cartel

According to the DPP, the extension is crucial to securing justice and dismantling what authorities describe as a sophisticated transnational drug network.

When the matter came up for mention, the prosecution persuaded the court to grant more time, arguing that investigators are pursuing critical leads before forwarding the file to the DPP for further action.

The six, identified as Jasem Darzaen Nia, Nadeem Jadgai, Imran Baloch, Hassan Baloch, Rahim Baksh and Imtiyaz Daryayi, were allegedly intercepted in the Indian Ocean while ferrying methamphetamine worth Ksh.8.2 billion.

According to the prosecution, investigators believe the suspects are part of a highly organised cartel that uses maritime routes to move synthetic drugs into the region. 

Detectives from the Anti-Narcotics Unit reportedly recovered seven electronic devices, including a GPS tracker, alongside the seized narcotics. The gadgets are believed to contain crucial intelligence on the shipment’s origin, intended trafficking routes and financiers behind the operation.

The prosecution argued that releasing the suspects before investigators conclude their work would jeopardise a multiagency, internationally coordinated operation that involves sensitive digital evidence and complex cross-border linkages.

The six have been in custody for three weeks following the operation that led to the seizure of 769 packages of crystalline substances suspected to be synthetic narcotic drugs, weighing 1,035.986 kilograms.

During the previous mention of the case, the court directed investigators to forward the seized substances to the Government Chemist for analysis and to submit the suspects’ mobile phones for forensic examination at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters.

The suspects are under investigation for trafficking in narcotic drugs, contrary to Section 4(a)(ii) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act of 1994.