Seven Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers have been ordered to remain in custody for 10 days as authorities conduct forensic investigations in connection with a Sh192 million methamphetamine seizure in Mombasa.
The order was issued on Thursday by Senior Resident Magistrate Gladys Ollimo, following an application by the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU).
The suspects were apprehended on December 11 during a coordinated operation by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters and the Mombasa Regional Command.
They are alleged to have trafficked 25 kilograms of methamphetamine, packaged in whitish crystalline form.
Identified as Duke Nyamwaya, Juma Mwinyifaki, Michael Kariuki, Elijah Mbogo Gacog’u, James Ekiru, Abdulrehman Salad, and Abdirahman Abdi Kuno, the officers were presented in court under tight security.
Prosecutors argued that releasing them at this stage could compromise the investigation, citing the risk of witness interference, destruction of digital evidence, or contact with other suspects still at large.
Investigators have also recovered 11 mobile phones from the suspects’ homes and workplaces, including models from Redmi, Tecno, Itel, Samsung, Vivo, and Oppo.
According to PC Isaac Njoroge, the devices will undergo forensic analysis to trace communication patterns and possible links to wider trafficking networks.
The drugs themselves have yet to be weighed, sampled, or formally analysed, delaying the finalisation of case documentation.
Prosecutors Yassir Mohammed and Brenda Oganda emphasised the public interest in a thorough probe, highlighting the high value of the seized methamphetamine and the technical complexity of the forensic processes involved.
The court acknowledged these factors, noting the potential flight risk and authorising extended detention to ensure the investigation proceeds without obstruction.
Methamphetamine trafficking in Kenya has been a growing concern in recent years, with coastal towns such as Mombasa increasingly linked to regional smuggling routes.
Cases involving security personnel are particularly sensitive, raising questions about internal accountability and the integrity of law enforcement structures.
The matter is set for further mention on December 22, when the court will review progress on forensic examinations and provide additional directions for the handling of the case.
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