A Mombasa court has ordered the continued detention of seven Kenya Defence Forces soldiers arrested in connection with a major narcotics trafficking operation involving methamphetamine valued at Sh192 million. The ruling allows investigators ten additional days to conduct detailed forensic examinations and trace possible links to a wider network operating along the coast and beyond.
Senior Resident Magistrate Gladys Ollimo issued the detention order following an application by the Anti-Narcotics Unit. The request was supported by investigative teams from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Headquarters and the Mombasa Regional Office, who argued that the complexity of the case required more time to preserve and analyse evidence.
The soldiers, identified as Duke Nyamwaya, Juma Mwinyifaki, Michael Kariuki, Elijah Mbogo Gacog’u, James Ekiru, Abdulrehman Salad, and Abdirahman Abdi Kuno, were arrested on December 11 during a coordinated operation. Authorities say the suspects were found trafficking approximately twenty-five kilograms of methamphetamine packaged in crystalline form and concealed in multiple packets.
Investigating officer PC Isaac Njoroge told the court that searches conducted at the suspects’ residences and workplaces revealed additional quantities of narcotics along with eleven mobile phones believed to contain critical communication data. The recovered phones include models from Samsung, Redmi, Vivo, Tecno, Itel, and Oppo. Investigators believe the devices may help establish patterns of communication between the suspects and other players involved in narcotics distribution.
Magistrate Ollimo authorised the forensic extraction and analysis of the electronic devices. The court noted that the results could be instrumental in uncovering potential accomplices, financiers, or cross-border trafficking routes. The judge further ruled that the weight, composition, and purity of the seized substances must undergo laboratory examination to confirm their classification and value under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act.
The prosecution submitted that the methamphetamine seized during the operation had not yet been weighed, sampled, or analysed. According to investigators, the urgency of the arrest and the scale of the operation required immediate action, leaving no time for pre-arrest testing. The court heard that a detailed analysis is necessary to advance charges, assess the extent of the suspected trafficking ring, and ensure compliance with evidentiary standards in drug-related cases.
Prosecutors Yassir Mohammed and Brenda Oganda told the court that releasing the suspects at this stage would undermine the integrity of the investigation. They argued that the suspects, by virtue of their military positions and training, could interfere with witnesses, tamper with digital devices, or coordinate with accomplices who may not yet have been apprehended.
According to the Anti-Narcotics Unit, the coastal region has increasingly become a key transit point for synthetic drugs destined for international markets. Methamphetamine seizures in Mombasa have risen in recent years, reflecting shifting trafficking strategies by criminal networks. Authorities have noted that criminal groups are increasingly exploiting transport corridors, maritime routes, and urban centres to move high-value narcotics.
In court documents filed by investigators, the officers argued that the suspects’ access to communication equipment and familiarity with operational procedures could compromise efforts to secure evidence. They emphasised that the detained individuals could potentially use their training to evade surveillance or assist other suspects in avoiding arrest if released prematurely.
The prosecution also pointed to the high value of the seizure. With an estimated street value of Sh192 million, the methamphetamine haul ranks among the most significant seizures reported this year. Prosecutors argued that the economic scale of the trafficking operation demonstrated the potential involvement of well-organised networks, necessitating a thorough and uninterrupted investigation.
Magistrate Ollimo agreed with the assessment, noting that the gravity of the allegations, the technical nature of the forensic processes, and the potential flight risk justified additional detention. The judge also acknowledged the public interest in ensuring that organised criminal networks are dismantled and that investigations are not compromised by premature release.
The court’s decision underscores the heightened focus by Kenyan authorities on combating narcotics trafficking, particularly in the coastal region. Mombasa has been a focal point of anti-narcotics operations, with several high-profile cases involving heroin, cocaine, and synthetic drugs. Security agencies have increased patrols, intelligence sharing, and inter-agency collaboration to disrupt the operations of drug cartels that target both local and regional markets.
Analysts note that the involvement of serving soldiers in drug trafficking cases raises concerns about corruption, infiltration of criminal networks into security structures, and the exploitation of military expertise by organised cartels. Security agencies have previously warned that drug trafficking groups often seek individuals with knowledge of logistics, transport, and security operations to facilitate the movement of narcotics.
The Kenya Defence Forces has not yet issued an official statement on the arrests, but the institution typically cooperates with civilian authorities in cases involving criminal behaviour by its personnel. Past incidents have often resulted in discharge from service and prosecution before civilian courts.
The Anti-Narcotics Unit is expected to use the detention window to complete full forensic testing, extract data from the seized mobile phones, map communication logs, and identify possible financial transactions linked to the alleged trafficking operation. Investigators will also seek to determine whether the suspects had connections to international syndicates that operate along the Indian Ocean coast.
The case will be mentioned again on December 22, when investigators are expected to update the court on the progress of analyses and any additional arrests or charges.
The court’s decision adds momentum to ongoing national and regional efforts to combat drug trafficking networks, which authorities say continue to evolve in response to increased surveillance and enforcement. As investigations proceed, the case is expected to draw significant public interest given the scale of the seizure, the involvement of uniformed personnel, and the broader implications for national security and regional criminal networks.
