Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced government plans to publicly destroy Ksh8 billion worth of narcotics consignment seized during a multi-agency operation off the Kenyan coast.
Speaking on Sunday during a church service at AIC Kisumu Arina local Church, Murkomen stated that his Ministry is committed to eliminating drugs that are destroying the lives of young people.
“We have resolved as a nation that we must fight drugs, illicit alcohol, and all kinds of things that are destroying the lives of our people,” the CS stated.
Murkomen further confirmed the arrest of six Iranian nationals linked to the narcotics seizure, adding that they will be arraigned in court once investigations are complete.
During Friday’s operation, Kenya Navy officers, intercepted a boat ferrying Methamphetamines weighing 1,024 kilograms estimated to have a street value of approximately Ksh8 billion.
According to Murkomen, the drugs will undergo further forensic analysis and documentation before destruction.
“This decisive intervention, led by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, with support from the Kenya Navy, the Kenya Coast Guard Service, National Intelligence Service, Kenya Ports Authority, Kenya Revenue Authority, the Government Chemist, and other partner agencies, forms part of our contribution to global efforts to dismantle transnational organised crime networks, including narcotics trafficking, terrorism financing, and illicit financial flows,” Murkomen said.
He affirmed the possible collaboration with other international partners to trace and disrupt the criminal network associated with the shipment.
The Methamphetamine consignment were intercepted on Friday October 24, aboard a non registered vessel codenamed ‘IGOR’.
“The Kenya Navy successfully intercepted a vessel of interest codenamed IGOR suspected of involvement in narcotics trafficking,” the Deputy Commander Kenya Navy, Brigadier Sankale Kiswaa, who is the multi agency team leader said.
