Kenya seizes 454 kg of crystal meth worth $27 million in coastal raid
Kenyan police seized 454 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine valued at $27 million in a coastal operation following a tip-off from Tanzanian authorities. Three suspects—two Tanzanians and a Ugandan—were arrested. This marks a significant step in Kenya's intensified fight against drug trafficking, which uses the country as a transit route.
Kenyan authorities seized 454 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine worth $27 million in a multi-agency operation along the Kenyan coast, police announced on Monday.
The raid occurred on Saturday after a tip-off from Tanzanian authorities, who had arrested a suspect in a separate drug bust. Three suspects—two Tanzanians and one Ugandan—were arrested during the operation.
Kenya’s Director of Criminal Investigations, Mohamed Amin, described the seizure as an “operational breakthrough,” emphasizing the importance of intelligence-led investigations and cross-border cooperation in tackling trafficking networks.
Kenya has long been a transit route for narcotics due to its strategic location by the Indian Ocean, and the government has intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking. Between January and October 2026, authorities arrested 1,631 people related to narcotics offenses and seized drugs worth millions of dollars.
This seizure follows last year’s record confiscation of 1,036 kilograms of methamphetamine, underscoring Kenya’s commitment to preventing the country from becoming a transit route, destination market, or safe haven for drug traffickers.
