A Sh8.2bn drug case takes dramatic turn as Iranian suspects withdraw guilty pleas
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After the charges were re-read, all six entered pleas of not guilty.
Six Iranian nationals charged with trafficking methamphetamine worth an estimated Sh8.2 billion--street value--have withdrawn their earlier guilty pleas.
This now sets the stage for a full trial in one of Kenya’s largest maritime narcotics prosecutions.
The accused--Jaseem Darzaen Nia, Nadeem Jadgai, Imran Baloch, Hassan Baloch, Rahim Baksh and Imtiyaz Daryayi--appeared before Chief Magistrate Anthony Mwicigi on Friday at Shanzu Magistrate’s Court and asked that the charge be read afresh.
They told the court they had not fully understood the offence when they initially pleaded guilty two weeks ago.
After the charges were re-read, all six entered pleas of not guilty.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has charged the suspects under Section 4(a)(1) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act No. 4 of 1994, as amended in 2022, for allegedly trafficking 1,036.044 kilogrammes of methamphetamine aboard an unregistered, stateless vessel named Mashaallah.
According to the prosecution, the offence occurred between October 17 and October 20, 2025, on the high seas at coordinates approximately 350 nautical miles east of the Port of Mombasa.
Officials say the sheer size of the shipment highlights the growing threat of transnational maritime drug trafficking networks operating in the Indian Ocean.
“The massive consignment underscores the transnational nature of the crime and the growing threat posed by maritime drug trafficking networks,” prosecutors told the court.
Prosecutors, led by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Joseph Kimanthi strongly opposed the release of the accused on bond.
They argued that, as foreign nationals with no known local residence or reliable contacts, the suspects posed a high flight risk.
The court agreed, denying the accused bond and ordering that they be remanded at Shimo La Tewa Prison pending the hearing and determination of the case.
The magistrate also directed that pro bono legal counsel be appointed at state expense to ensure the accused receive a fair trial.
The matter is set for pre-trial mention on February 19, 2026.
