Six Iranians Reverse Guilty Pleas in Methamphetamine Case in Kenya
The defendants—Jaseem Darzadeh Nia, Nadeem Jadgal, Hassan Baloch, Raheem Baksh, Imran Baloch, and Imtiyaz Daryay—appeared before a magistrate on Friday and asked that the charges be formally read to them again. They told the court they had not properly understood the accusations when they admitted guilt roughly two weeks earlier. After the charges were read out anew, all six entered pleas of not guilty.
Prosecutors have charged the men under Kenya’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, accusing them of trafficking illegal drugs. According to the case presented, authorities seized 1,036.044 kilograms of methamphetamine aboard an unregistered and stateless dark vessel identified as “Mashaallah.”
The prosecution stated that the alleged trafficking activity took place between Oct. 17 and Oct. 20, 2025, in international waters roughly 350 nautical miles east of the Port of Mombasa.
Officials argue that the sheer volume of the drugs points to a coordinated cross-border trafficking network operating along maritime routes in the Indian Ocean.
During the hearing, prosecutors objected to any request for bail, contending that all six defendants are foreign nationals with no fixed residence or established ties within Kenya, which they said significantly increases the risk of flight. They further warned that granting release could compromise the case due to its scale and international scope.
The court sided with the prosecution and denied bond, ordering that the accused remain in custody at Shimo La Tewa Prison in Mombasa while the case proceeds to hearing and final determination.
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