The ruling marks a new turning point in a case that has drawn national attention and raised tough questions about discipline within the country’s security agencies.
The suspects were arrested on Thursday after detectives reportedly uncovered evidence suggesting that part of a drug haul intercepted in October may have been diverted before reaching official storage.
The suspects were arrested on Thursday after detectives reportedly uncovered evidence suggesting that part of a drug haul intercepted in October may have been diverted before reaching official storage.
According to investigators, the methamphetamine in question had an estimated street value of Ksh192 million.
Senior Resident Magistrate Gladys Ollimo granted the ten-day detention after the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) told the court that its team needed more time to complete forensic tests and compare communication logs from devices recovered during the arrests.
Senior Resident Magistrate Gladys Ollimo granted the ten-day detention after the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) told the court that its team needed more time to complete forensic tests and compare communication logs from devices recovered during the arrests.
Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), working jointly with regional teams in Mombasa, led the sting operation that resulted in the soldiers’ capture.
Sources familiar with the investigation say the soldiers were picked up from different locations after weeks of monitoring.
Sources familiar with the investigation say the soldiers were picked up from different locations after weeks of monitoring.
A total of 11 phones—including Tecno, Itel, Samsung, Vivo, Oppo and Redmi models—were confiscated alongside small amounts of additional narcotics found in some of the suspects’ residences.
The seven soldiers were identified as Duke Nyamwaya, Juma Mwinyifaki, Michael Kariuki, Elijah Mbogo Gacog’u, James Ekiru, Abdulrehman Salad, and Abdirahman Abdi Kuno.
The seven soldiers were identified as Duke Nyamwaya, Juma Mwinyifaki, Michael Kariuki, Elijah Mbogo Gacog’u, James Ekiru, Abdulrehman Salad, and Abdirahman Abdi Kuno.
Authorities believe the group may have worked together to divert at least 25 kilograms of crystal meth after it was offloaded from a dhow in the October operation.
The intercepted dhow had been carrying just over one tonne of methamphetamine, which security agencies described as one of the largest seizures ever made along the East African coastline.
The intercepted dhow had been carrying just over one tonne of methamphetamine, which security agencies described as one of the largest seizures ever made along the East African coastline.
The cargo was part of a long-running transnational trafficking route stretching across the ocean.
Although the soldiers were part of the team deployed for the seizure, investigators suspect that some of them took advantage of the chaotic offloading process to hide portions of the consignment for personal gain.
Although the soldiers were part of the team deployed for the seizure, investigators suspect that some of them took advantage of the chaotic offloading process to hide portions of the consignment for personal gain.
But the Defence Forces leadership has strongly pushed back on claims that drugs were lost.
Earlier this month, the KDF issued a detailed statement responding to growing speculation. The military confirmed that allegations of theft had reached its command but insisted that every kilogram offloaded from the dhow remained under tight guard.
Earlier this month, the KDF issued a detailed statement responding to growing speculation. The military confirmed that allegations of theft had reached its command but insisted that every kilogram offloaded from the dhow remained under tight guard.
Officials said the full consignment was stored in secure facilities overseen by a multi-agency team, and no shortages had been detected.
However, the KDF also acknowledged that internal investigations had been launched to determine whether any personnel had behaved improperly during the Indian Ocean operation.
However, the KDF also acknowledged that internal investigations had been launched to determine whether any personnel had behaved improperly during the Indian Ocean operation.
According to the statement, disciplinary action would be taken if any officer was found guilty of tampering with the seized drugs.
Security analysts say the arrests highlight the wider challenges faced by multi-agency teams tasked with handling high-value narcotics.
Security analysts say the arrests highlight the wider challenges faced by multi-agency teams tasked with handling high-value narcotics.
The large sums involved in the international drug trade have historically made law-enforcement operations vulnerable to corruption, especially at offloading or storage points.
Kenya’s coastline has been flagged repeatedly as a major transit corridor for traffickers moving crystal meth, heroin and other drugs into regional markets.
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