Woman’s Arrest Uncovers KDF Involvement in Sh8.2bn Meth Bust

A drug trafficking investigation in Mombasa has uncovered links between the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the illegal trade, raising concerns over military integrity and potential diplomatic fallout.

The inquiry began last week following the arrest of a woman in Mombasa, suspected of trafficking methamphetamine. The drugs were packaged in a manner similar to a consignment seized in October during a high-profile operation by the Kenya Navy, supported by other security agencies. 

The suspect, the wife of a serving KDF soldier and reportedly related to a sitting Member of Parliament, was taken into custody by Military Police. She is expected to face charges in a military court, alongside KDF personnel under investigation for possible involvement in the drug trade.

The October operation involved the interception of a stateless vessel off the Kenyan coast carrying over 1,000 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, worth Sh8.2 billion. The drugs, disguised as coffee shipments, were seized by the Kenya Navy with assistance from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and international partners, including US agencies. 

Six Iranian nationals were arrested in the operation and remain in custody as investigations continue. Security sources have since raised concerns about possible misconduct during the offloading of the drugs, suggesting that some KDF personnel may have diverted part of the consignment before it was formally handed over to the multi-agency team. 

While the KDF has assured that the full quantity of the drugs remains secure and under guard, it has confirmed that several of its members are under investigation, with disciplinary and legal actions promised if wrongdoing is proven. The arrest in Mombasa has intensified suspicions that some of the seized drugs may have been distributed locally, despite official claims to the contrary. 

Detectives found several kilos of methamphetamine and approximately Sh700,000 in cash believed to be proceeds from the trade. Kenya has faced previous drug trafficking scandals, including the 2006 seizure of 1.1 tonnes of cocaine and the interception of heroin aboard the MV Amin Darya in 2014.