Drug ship tried to escape to Zanzibar

 

Stephen Spark

A court in Mombasa heard how cargo vessel Amin Darya tried to alter course for Zanzibar after being intercepted by Kenyan naval ships, which escorted it to Mombasa port on 2 July.

Also known as Al Noor, the Iranian-registered ship was found to contain 377kg of heroin worth up to $20M - some of it mixed with diesel fuel - as well as the 300 tonnes of cement on the manifest.

On 29 August the Kenyan Navy sank Amin Darya and its illegal cargo by blowing it up 10nm offshore, witnessed by President Kenyatta.

Drugs smuggled through east African ports are often destined for the European market.

Although Amin Darya's Iranian captain and seven Pakistani and two Indian crew claimed the ship was heading from Sharjah to Mombasa, police there said it had sailed from Pakistan and called into Mogadishu en route for Zanzibar.

Poor security and corruption in the Zanzibari port of Pemba have made it an attractive hub for smuggling ivory, drugs, and arms.

Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa was quoted by Business Daily as saying the vessel's destruction would send "a strong message that Kenya will deal ruthlessly with drug barons".

Amin Darya's crew, two Kenyan businessmen, and Mombasa politician Maur Bwanamaka have been charged with drug trafficking and will next appear in court on Monday.