MOMBASA, Kenya – Kenyan authorities on Thursday oversaw the destruction of a massive methamphetamine consignment valued at an estimated $63 million. The 1,024-kilogram (about 2,257 pounds) haul was incinerated in a high-temperature kiln in Mombasa, nearly a year after its interception in the Indian Ocean.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen was present to oversee the destruction, using the occasion to issue a stern warning to drug traffickers. He stated that Kenyan authorities would intensify their efforts to disrupt the illicit trade, emphasizing that Kenya serves as both a “transit hub” and a “market” for illegal drugs.
Murkomen pledged tougher enforcement measures aimed at preventing both drug trafficking and substance abuse. He also confirmed that suspected traffickers would face prosecution and that authorities would actively pursue the seizure of any property linked to the illegal trade.
The significant interception occurred on October 25, 2025, when the Kenyan Navy seized the consignment approximately 630 kilometers (391 miles) off the coast of Mombasa. The flagless vessel was subsequently escorted to port under armed guard. Six Iranian nationals who were arrested aboard the vessel continue to face drug-trafficking charges in court.
Authorities have hailed the seizure of over a ton of methamphetamine as a major breakthrough in Kenya’s ongoing fight against narcotics trafficking. This action comes amid increasing concerns in Kenya regarding synthetic drugs, particularly along the coast, where health and law-enforcement officials have reported a rise in problems associated with methamphetamine and heroin use.
