Kenya-Tanzania Operation Seizes Sh3.6 Billion Worth of Meth in Kwale

A joint operation by Kenyan and Tanzanian security forces has resulted in the seizure of 454 kg of suspected methamphetamine in Kwale County, Kenya. The drugs, valued at Sh3.6 billion, were recovered from a house in Ganja la Simba village, Kinondo Location, Msambweni Sub-County. The operation involved Kenyan security officers and their Tanzanian counterparts, and followed the arrest of a suspect in Tanzania.

The operation began with the arrest in Tanzania of 45-year-old Basleman Saleh Khamis on November 5, who was suspected of trafficking 259 kg of methamphetamine and cocaine. Khamis was transferred to Kenyan custody at the Lunga Lunga-Horohoro border crossing and led investigators to Shirazi village, where they identified 37-year-old Ugandan woman Nakabugo Zuraicah as the alleged owner of the drugs seized in Tanzania.

Guided by Khamis and Zuraicah, police located a second consignment at a house in Ganja la Simba, about 10 km north-east of Msambweni Police Station, where they recovered the 454 kg haul. A third suspect, 54-year-old Tanzanian national Hamad Seif Said, was arrested at the same premises. The suspects and seized items were transferred to the National Anti-Narcotics Bureau (NANIB) Coast regional headquarters in Mombasa for further analysis.

In addition to the drugs, officers seized two vehicles—a white Ford station wagon (registration KDY 626Z) and a white Ford pick-up (registration KDZ 201A)—and a red TVS motorcycle (registration KMGT 230A). The vehicles and motorcycle are believed to have been used in the trafficking operation.

NANIB Coast Region is now leading the investigation to determine the source, intended destination, and the broader network behind the cross-border trafficking operation. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to identify and apprehend other suspects involved in the operation.

The seizure of the 454 kg of suspected methamphetamine is a significant blow to the narcotics trafficking network operating in the region. Authorities have been working to crack down on the trafficking of illicit substances, and this operation demonstrates the success of their efforts.

The joint operation between Kenyan and Tanzanian security forces highlights the importance of regional cooperation in combating transnational crime. The two countries have been working together to share intelligence and coordinate efforts to disrupt and dismantle narcotics trafficking networks.

Key points

• The joint operation resulted in the seizure of 454 kg of suspected methamphetamine valued at Sh3.6 billion.
• The operation involved the arrest of three suspects, including a Tanzanian national and a Ugandan woman.
• The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to identify and apprehend other suspects involved in the operation.