NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 31 – Six Iranians accused of trafficking methamphetamine worth Sh8.2 billion have reversed their earlier guilty pleas, now pleading not guilty before Chief Magistrate Anthony Mwicigi.
The accused—Jaseem Darzadeh Nia, Nadeem Jadgal, Hassan Baloch, Raheem Baksh, Imran Baloch, and Imtiyaz Daryay—claimed they did not fully understand the charges when they initially admitted guilt.
The charges relate to trafficking 1,036.044 kilograms of methamphetamine aboard the unregistered vessel “Mashaallah” in October 2025, approximately 350 nautical miles off Mombasa.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), led by Senior Assistant Director Joseph Kimanthi and his team, opposed bail, citing the accused’s foreign nationality and risk of absconding.
The court agreed, remanding all six at Shimo La Tewa Prison, and appointed state-funded legal counsel to ensure a fair trial.
The case is set for pre-trial mention on 19th February 2026, highlighting Kenya’s ongoing battle against transnational maritime drug trafficking.
