Kenyan military authorities have launched investigations into claims that several Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers attempted to steal part of a massive methamphetamine consignment intercepted during a high-stakes multi-agency operation in the Indian Ocean.
In a statement issued on December 2, the KDF confirmed that the officers who participated in the October 25 operation are being scrutinised by security and investigative agencies. The military, however, insisted that the full drug haul is secure and under continuous guard by a joint team drawn from various units.
According to the statement from KDF’s Strategic Communications office, allegations emerged that some personnel may have diverted a portion of the narcotics as they were being offloaded from the seized vessel.
The methamphetamine—1,024 kilograms in total—was captured during Operation Bahari Safi 2025.01 after the Kenya Navy intercepted a stateless dhow roughly 630 kilometres east of Mombasa. Six Iranian nationals aboard the vessel were arrested.
Authorities recovered 769 tightly sealed packages of crystal meth, testing at an estimated purity of 98 per cent. The haul is valued at more than Sh8.2 billion, making it one of the most significant narcotics seizures in Kenya’s history.
The operation benefited from regional intelligence and aerial surveillance support from Seychelles and Madagascar, forming part of broader efforts to dismantle organised drug-trafficking networks that exploit the Western Indian Ocean corridor.
Investigators believe the intercepted vessel may have slipped through earlier international crackdowns, highlighting the sophistication of syndicates operating in the region.
Government officials have confirmed that the narcotics will be publicly destroyed once all judicial procedures—including the trial of the six foreign suspects—are concluded.
KDF noted that any officer found culpable will face disciplinary action and possible prosecution.
“Appropriate legal and administrative measures will be taken if the allegations are proven,” the statement said.
The inquiry is expected to focus on the critical window between the offloading of the drugs and their transfer into custody—where the alleged tampering is said to have occurred.
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