Kenyan security agencies have seized a record shipment of methamphetamine in a major high-seas operation backed by INTERPOL, intercepting more than one tonne of the illicit drug and arresting six suspects aboard a stateless vessel.

The operation, conducted on October 21, 2025, saw the Kenyan Navy intercept a dhow approximately 340 nautical miles east of Mombasa, following intelligence shared through a coordinated international effort involving the Regional Narcotics Interagency Fusion Cell (Bahrain) and the Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC) in Seychelles.

The vessel was escorted to Mombasa three days later under tight security, where a multi-agency command centre, chaired by the Deputy Commander of the Kenyan Navy, oversaw the offloading and inspection of the cargo.

INTERPOL provided critical support in coordinating the operation, ensuring international evidence-handling standards were met, and facilitating collaboration among regional and national agencies.

Authorities recovered 769 packets of crystal meth weighing 1,024 kilograms. Laboratory analysis by the Government Chemist confirmed a 98% purity level, valuing the consignment at approximately KES 8 billion (USD 63 million) on the black market.

The six-crew members aboard the dhow were arrested and are facing drug trafficking charges under Kenya’s anti-narcotics laws. The Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) has since taken over the investigation, as Kenya intensifies its efforts to combat transnational organized crime in the Indian Ocean region.

Kenya Navy and INTERPOL Seize KES 8 Billion Meth Shipment in Major Ocean Drug Bust