NAIROBI, Kenya

Kenya’s military said Tuesday evening it has opened investigations into several Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) personnel accused of stealing and concealing part of a major methamphetamine shipment intercepted during a multi-agency operation off the country’s coast.

In a statement, the KDF said the allegations stem from a 1,024kg crystal meth cargo seized on Oct. 25 when a dhow was intercepted at sea and the narcotics were offloaded ashore under security escort.

The military said the claims surfaced shortly after the operation, prompting an internal review.

The military stressed that “suspected KDF personnel are currently under investigation,” adding that “should the allegations be substantiated, appropriate disciplinary and legal measures will be taken in accordance with the law.”

The development comes as courts in Mombasa continue to handle related proceedings arising from the seizure, where six foreign nationals arrested in the same operation were arraigned over the trafficking of what prosecutors described as “769 packages containing a crystalline substance, identified as methamphetamine,” valued at roughly $63 million.

Kenyan security agencies have increased maritime surveillance in recent months after several high-value narcotics interceptions along the Indian Ocean route, which authorities say remains a preferred corridor for transnational trafficking networks.