Kenyan and Tanzanian security agencies have recovered 454 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, valued at approximately $27 million (Sh3.6 billion), during a joint operation in Kwale County.
The seizure, which took place in the coastal areas of Msambweni, follows the arrest of a high-profile Tanzanian suspect who was handed over to Kenyan authorities at the LungalungaβHorohoro border point, Nairobi Leo reported.
Suspects arrested in Kwale
Authorities arrested three individuals during the operation in the Shirazi and Kinondo areas of Kwale County, Capital FM Africa reported.
The suspects include Saleh Khamis Baseleman, also known as Mbwiga, a Tanzanian national; 37-year-old Nakabugo Zuraicah, a Ugandan woman; and 54-year-old Hamad Seif Said, a Tanzanian national, AllAfrica reported.
The operation, conducted on November 7, 2026, was carried out under the instructions of Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja. Detectives discovered the drugs at Ganja La Simba village in the Kinondo Location of Msambweni Sub-County during an intelligence-led mission involving the National Anti-Narcotics Bureauβs Coast Region team and other security agencies.
Detectives also seized two motor vehicles and a motorcycle believed to be linked to the trafficking network, including a white Ford station wagon (registration KDY 626Z), a white Ford pickup (registration KDZ 201A), and a red TVS motorcycle (registration KMGT 230A), Radiokaya reported.
Tracing the drug source
Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Director Mohamed Amin stated that detectives traced the origin of the methamphetamine to Pakistan, People Daily reported.
The operation began after Tanzanian authorities intercepted Baseleman on November 5, 2026, while he was allegedly in possession of narcotic drugs, The Kenya Times reported.
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Investigations suggest the drugs were destined for several countries across East and Southern Africa, People Daily reported. While some sources suggest the consignment may have been destined for South Africa, this has not been confirmed.
The methamphetamine, a synthetic drug known to cause severe psychosis, heart attack, or stroke, was found in a manner that investigators believe was highly sophisticated to avoid detection during screening processes.
International trafficking networks
DCEA Commissioner General Aretas Lyimo said the suspects were part of an international network operating across several countries, including Afghanistan, South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and the UAE, AllAfrica reported.
Investigations established that Baseleman had direct links to drug-producing facilities in Afghanistan, where he allegedly ordered consignments for transport via traditional sailing vessels, The Citizen reported.
To transport narcotics, the trafficking group allegedly utilized multiple paths, such as the Busia border connecting Uganda and Kenya, in addition to Tanzanian locations like Tunduma, Kasumulu, Mtukula, and Korogwe. Lyimo noted that the drugs found in Tanzania had reportedly come through the Kenyan port of Mombasa.
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We are not only targeting those transporting drugs but also the financiers and organisers who sustain these criminal enterprises.
The DCI is currently working with the Asset Recovery Agency to identify and trace proceeds from the illegal trade, including cash, vehicles, land, and businesses, Radiokaya reported.
Government crackdown and regional impact
The scale of the Kwale seizure occurs as the Kenyan government intensifies its fight against narcotics. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki recently identified illicit alcohol and drug abuse as among the country’s top threats, pledging tougher laws and increased operations, The Kenya Times reported.
In response to President William Rutoβs declaration of drugs as a national security priority, the DCI has transformed its Anti-Narcotics Unit into NANIB, recruited 208 additional officers, and established 40 new stations, according to Mohamed Amin.
The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) has cautioned that the coastline of East Africa is increasingly serving not only as a transit zone for drugs headed to other markets but also as a point of entry for manufactured drugs intended for local consumption.
Recent narcotics seizures
The Kwale seizure adds to a series of major anti-narcotics operations carried out along the Kenyan coast in recent months, The Kenya Times reported.
| Event/Seizure | Estimated Value | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Kwale Methamphetamine Seizure | Ksh 3.6 billion | 454kg of suspected methamphetamine |
| September 2026 Destruction | Ksh 8.2 billion | Over 1 tonne of methamphetamine (intercepted from MV Mashaallah) |
| JanβOct 2026 Total Recoveries | Ksh 779.7 million | Includes cannabis, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine; 1,631 suspects arrested |
The September 2026 destruction at the Bamburi Cement Factory in Mombasa involved methamphetamine that had been intercepted by the Kenyan navy the previous year, about 630 kilometres off the coast, The Kenya Times reported.
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