Kenya blows up heroin-smuggling yacht

Aug 15, 2015

Kenya has blown up a yacht seized while smuggling heroin across the Indian Ocean, the interior ministry says.


Kenya on Friday blew up a yacht seized while smuggling heroin across the Indian Ocean, the interior ministry said, as the east African nation tries to crack down on a rise in drug trafficking.


Kenyan police seized the yacht in April after 6.7 kilogrammes (14 pounds) of heroin was found onboard, Interior Minister Joseph Nkaissery said in a statement.

"Any vessel, vehicle or plane found ferrying drugs or ivory under my watch will be destroyed," Nkaissery said, after the boat was sunk off the Indian Ocean coast.

"Kenya will not be used as a transit country nor will it be used as a drug trafficking base."



The British registered 'Baby Iris' yatch is guarded by Kenyan Navy officers at the port in Mombasa, before being taken out to sea and destroyed by the Kenya defence force, on August 14, 2015. (AFP)


Police said the small yacht -- called "Baby Iris" -- was used to ship drugs from between the Seychelles, Tanzania and Kenya.

It was seized while at anchor in Kilifi, a sleepy Kenyan port, some 70 kilometres (43 miles) north of Mombasa.

Kenya on Friday blew up a yacht seized while smuggling heroin across the Indian Ocean, the interior ministry said, as the east African nation tries to crack down on a rise in drug trafficking.

Kenyan police seized the yacht in April after 6.7 kilogrammes (14 pounds) of heroin was found onboard, Interior Minister Joseph Nkaissery said in a statement.

"Any vessel, vehicle or plane found ferrying drugs or ivory under my watch will be destroyed," Nkaissery said, after the boat was sunk off the Indian Ocean coast.



Kenyan anti-narcotic officers display some of the drugs found on the British registered 'Baby Iris' yatch before the yacht is taken out to sea to be destroyed by the Kenya defence force. (AFP).


"Kenya will not be used as a transit country nor will it be used as a drug trafficking base."

Police said the small yacht -- called "Baby Iris" -- was used to ship drugs from between the Seychelles, Tanzania and Kenya.

It was seized while at anchor in Kilifi, a sleepy Kenyan port, some 70 kilometres (43 miles) north of Mombasa.


AFP
 

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