The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Six Iranian nationals arrested over the Sh8.2 billion drug haul off the Kenyan coast will remain in custody for 30 more days as investigations continue.
The six — Imtiyaz Daryayi, Rahim Baksh, Nadeem Jadgal, Jasem Darzadeh Nia, Imran Baloch, and Hassan Baloch — appeared before Chief Magistrate Anthony Mwicigi at the Shanzu Law Courts on Tuesday.
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They were not charged after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) requested additional time to finalize investigations into what has been termed the largest narcotics seizure in Kenya’s history.
The magistrate granted the application, allowing police to hold the suspects at Mombasa Port Police Station for 30 days.
A report from the Government Chemist confirmed that the seized substance was methamphetamine with a 98 percent purity level.
The DPP also sought court approval to examine mobile and satellite phones confiscated from the suspects, which are believed to have been used for communication with other accomplices.
Lead investigator Shadrack Kemei told the court that intelligence from the Kenya Navy led to the interception of a suspicious “dark vessel” on October 19 in the high seas.
He said the vessel was escorted to Kilindini Port on October 24, where officers discovered 769 packages of crystalline substances weighing over 1,035 kilograms, believed to be synthetic drugs.
Kemei noted that two of the suspects did not have identification documents and that investigators suspect they are part of a larger international drug trafficking ring.
Information retrieved from their electronic devices is expected to help identify more suspects linked to the case.
