Australian Navy seize Sh27b heroin off Kenyan Coast

One of Darwin’s boat transports seized heroin from a boarded vessel, back to the ship for processing and destruction. [PHOTO: AUSTRALIAN NAVY]

By  KIBIWOTT KOROSS

Kenya: The Australian Navy has seized more than a tonne of heroin worth Sh27 billion ($314 million) from a smuggling boat off Kenyan coast.

According to a statement from Australian Ministry of Executive Coordination and Communication, the record 1,032kg haul was discovered aboard a dhow in the Indian Ocean, about 27 nautical miles east of Mombasa.

It could not be immediately established where the 46 sacks of heroin hidden among bags of cement were destined.

The statement says late on Wednesday, the navy’s HMAS Darwin warship located a suspicious dhow and deployed her boarding team, which discovered the heroin.

HMAS Darwin’s Commander Terry Morrison said in a statement they worked throughout the night, removing a major source of funding for terrorist and criminal networks.

Friday, the Australian Embassy in Nairobi said they could not provide any information about the seizure until next week.

“We don’t have that information, and as it is a public holiday in Australia today we will not have any further information until next week,” Simon Anderson from the Australian Embassy said when asked if the seizure had a Kenyan link.

Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo said he had not received a comprehensive report of the seizure as he was still awaiting communication from the Kenya Defense Forces.

He said on phone: “I am still awaiting a communication from KDF and will issue a statement thereafter. I cannot comment more now. ”

Largest drugs haul

Kenya has been a transit point of cocaine after the seizure of more than 1,000kg of the contraband worth Sh6 billion in December 2004. It was the largest ever drugs haul in Africa.

The drugs were found at a container depot said to be owned by a powerful, wealthy politician. They were believed to be destined for Europe as drug agencies from across Kenya’s borders warned that the country had become a conduit for trafficking narcotics.

US experts confirmed that the haul was 100 per cent cocaine, with tests showing it originated from Colombia. They airlifted and tested 21 samples in high-tech laboratories in America.

The drugs find their way into the streets through well-connected individuals who always escape security dragnets.

It is believed that the kingpins, as is often the case in drug trafficking, are free and only the errand boys are been arrested.

Friday, Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) director of operations, Captain Craig Powell, said this latest drug interception showcased the positive results being achieved in the Middle East maritime environment.

 CMF is a multi-national naval partnership, which exists to promote security, stability and prosperity across approximately 2.5 million square miles of international waters, which encompass some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

Its main focus areas are defeating terrorism, preventing piracy, encouraging regional cooperation, and promoting a safe maritime environment.

“This latest interception is the largest heroin haul in the history of CMF with a street value of approximately $289 million (AUD). The success of this interdiction is testament to the highly effective interoperability of HMAS Darwin with the UK-led Combined Task Force 150 under the CMF, and the professionalism of Darwin’s crew,” Captain Powell said.

 “This is a major heroin seizure, which has removed a major source of funding from terrorist and criminal networks. The search tested the steel of Darwin’s boarding parties who were working in difficult conditions throughout the night,” Commander Morrison said, “It’s well known that these drugs assist terrorist organisations through funding so that they can conduct violent acts.