Seven soldiers arrested over the alleged trafficking of methamphetamine valued at Sh192 million will remain out of custody after a Mombasa court declined to grant investigators more time to hold them as inquiries continue.
The suspects were released on a Sh500,000 bond each, with a surety of a similar amount, or an alternative cash bail of Sh500,000. Senior Resident Magistrate Gladys Ollimo also ordered the soldiers to provide one contact person each and to report weekly to the Anti-Narcotics Police Unit until the case progresses.
The soldiers were arrested on December 11, 2025, during a joint operation by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters working alongside officers from the Mombasa regional offices.
Investigators allege the suspects were linked to the movement of 25 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine recovered in whitish crystalline form.
A day after the arrest, on December 12, the court allowed investigators to detain the suspects for 10 days to complete forensic tests on the seized substance. Prosecutors had argued that setting the suspects free at that stage could compromise investigations through interference with witnesses, destruction of digital material, or coordination with other suspected accomplices.
In granting the initial detention orders, the court cited the high estimated value of the suspected drugs, the technical nature of forensic analysis, and concerns over possible flight risk. The matter was scheduled for mention on December 22 to assess the progress of investigations.
When the case came up for mention, the prosecution informed the court that investigations had not been finalised and that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions was still waiting for a government chemist’s report before determining the appropriate charges. The suspects have not been charged and are yet to take a plea.
The prosecution told the court that neither investigators nor prosecutors are authorised to classify suspected narcotics, stressing that charges can only be approved once scientific confirmation is provided. They added that all charging decisions must strictly follow facts, evidence, and the law, in line with constitutional provisions.
Detective Issack Njoroge of the DCI sought additional custodial orders, saying the seized substance had already been submitted for analysis and that the chemist’s report was expected by January 3. Defence lawyers opposed the request, arguing that holding the suspects without charges would be unconstitutional.
In her decision, Magistrate Ollimo declined to extend the detention period, ordered the release of the suspects on bond, and directed that the case be mentioned on January 6, 2026, for further directions as investigations continue.
The recovery of the suspected drugs, which were packed in 769 concealed units, had earlier resulted in the arrest of six foreigners. Following the later arrest of the seven soldiers, the Ministry of Defence said disciplinary and legal steps would be taken if the claims are confirmed.
“The entire 1,024 kilogrammes of methamphetamine offloaded ashore remains intact,” the military said in a statement issued by the KDF Strategic Communications Department.
The DCI is continuing investigations to establish the full circumstances surrounding the case.
