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Australian government on Monday said it has no information linking Kenya to last week's seizure of heroin with a street value of 290 million U.S. dollars.
A statement from the Australian High Commission in Nairobi said there was no Australian asset which entered Kenya's territorial waters, stressing that the reference to Kenya in the Australian media release was to provide background geographical information only.
"The dhow was deemed stateless. This operation was undertaken by the crew of HMAS Darwin but it was an international operation," the statement said.
The Australian Navy sailors patrolling the coast of Africa last week seized 1,032 kilograms of heroin on a sailing boat on April 23/24 at the international waters.
Crew from HMAS Darwin boarded the wooden boat east of Kenya and discovered 46 sacks of heroin hidden among bags of cement. The Navy said the drugs from the dhow were taken aboard HMAS Darwin.
The seizure was made as part of an international operation against drug smuggling in the Indian Ocean, the profits of which help to fund terror organisations including Al Qaeda.
The ship's commander, Terry Morrison, reportedly said the heroin seizure will put a dent in terrorist funding networks.
"These drugs have now been seized and are about to be destroyed. It's well known that these drugs assist terrorist organisations through funding so that they can conduct violent acts," he said.
HMAS Darwin is currently deployed on patrol under tasking to the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and the UK led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150.
The statement was issued after Nairobi summoned Australian envoy to provide more information on the drugs.
It is believed the vessel found with the haul is one of two notorious vessels used for illegal trade along the East African Coast and is partly owned by Kenyans.
The two boats, according to reports, are said to be predominantly used along the East Africa coast and have been tracked from Somalia.
The Australian Navy reportedly did not information the Kenya Government over the operation to seize the drug to limit any prospects of information leaking out.
The high commission said the seizure highlights areas of improved cooperation with Kenya, both through the CMF under which Australia operates and directly with authorities in Nairobi.
Australia said Kenya is a valued partner in responding to global security challenges, including maritime security challenges.
"Kenya and Australia are both members of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), which aims to increase maritime cooperation among the littoral states of the Indian Ocean region," the statement said.
Kenya and Australia are also members of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) which seeks to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in the areas of maritime safety and security, trade and investment facilitation, fisheries management, disaster risk management, academic science and technology cooperation, and tourism and cultural exchanges.
Australia said it will continue to engage with Kenya on maritime security, a commitment reflected by recent visits (in January and March) of then Australian Commander CTF150 Commodore Bates and the upcoming port visit by HMAS Darwin.
