Six Iranian nationals facing charges of trafficking narcotic drugs worth an estimated Ksh. 8.2 billion have reversed their earlier guilty pleas, prompting the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to reaffirm its commitment to see the case through to conclusion.
The accused—Jaseem Darzadeh Nia, Nadeem Jadgal, Hassan Baloch, Raheem Baksh, Imran Baloch, and Imtiyaz Daryay—appeared before Chief Magistrate Anthony Mwicigi, requesting that the charges be read anew, claiming they had not fully understood them when pleading guilty two weeks ago. Following the re-reading, all six entered pleas of not guilty.
The DPP charged the suspects with trafficking narcotic drugs contrary to Section 4(a)(1) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, 1994, as amended in 2022.
Prosecutors stated that the accused were jointly involved in transporting 1,036.044 kilograms of methamphetamine aboard an unregistered and stateless vessel named Mashaallah.
The offence allegedly occurred between October 17 and 20, 2025, on the high seas, approximately 350 nautical miles east of the Port of Mombasa.
Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Joseph Kimanthi, assisted by ADPP Wanga Tito and Principal Prosecution Counsels Alex Ndiema and Susan Lewa, opposed bond for the accused.
They argued that as foreign nationals with no local ties, the suspects posed a high risk of absconding. The court upheld this position, remanding all six at Shimo La Tewa Prison pending the case’s determination.
To ensure a fair trial, the court also directed that pro bono legal counsel be appointed at state expense. The matter is scheduled for a pre-trial mention on February 19, 2026.