JKIA: The drug gate way

ANU Detectives Seize Cocaine Worth Sh3.6 Million, Arrest Drug Mule at JKIA

Kenya’s war on narcotics took a decisive turn after Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) detectives intercepted a drug courier at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), seizing cocaine valued at approximately Sh3.6 million. The dramatic arrest, which unfolded shortly after the suspect disembarked from a flight from Addis Ababa, has once again highlighted the increasing vigilance of Kenya’s security agencies in combating international drug trafficking networks.

According to investigators, the suspect, 34-year-old Muli Ayan Ndunge, attempted to smuggle the drugs into the country using the highly risky body concealment method known as “pellet swallowing.” Her arrest marked yet another victory in Kenya’s ongoing crackdown on transnational narcotics syndicates that use major airports in East Africa as entry points for hard drugs destined for local distribution or re-export to international markets.

How ANU Detectives Nabbed the Drug Courier at JKIA

Sources within the Anti-Narcotics Unit revealed that the operation was intelligence-led, with officers receiving tips about a possible drug mule expected aboard a flight from Addis Ababa. Acting swiftly and discreetly, the detectives positioned themselves at strategic points near the arrival terminal.

As passengers disembarked, officers identified the suspect based on her travel profile and intelligence cues. Ndunge appeared visibly uneasy, a behavior pattern that seasoned ANU officers are trained to detect. To avoid creating a scene, the detectives quietly approached her and escorted her to the ANU offices at JKIA for further interrogation and observation.

It didn’t take long before their suspicions were confirmed.

28 Pellets of Cocaine Ejected – Worth Sh3.6 Million

Within minutes of being placed under observation, the suspect began expelling pellets—one of the clearest signs of internal concealment.

According to the officers, she emitted 14 pellets of cocaine during the initial session. However, detectives believed she had swallowed more based on intelligence and standard smuggling patterns. The team continued monitoring her, and soon another 14 pellets followed.

In total, 28 pellets were retrieved, weighing 912.74 grams. The narcotics hold an estimated street value of Sh3,650,960, underscoring the lengths to which traffickers go in hopes of turning massive profits through risky and illegal means.

Pellet swallowing is widely considered one of the most dangerous drug-trafficking methods. The pellets, often wrapped in latex or condoms, can rupture inside the courier’s stomach, leading to fatal overdoses. That Ndunge survived the journey does not diminish the high risk involved—both for the trafficker and unsuspecting passengers.

X-Ray Scan Confirms Abdomen Was Clear

Once the suspect had expelled the final pellet, ANU detectives moved to confirm that her system was completely free of narcotics. She was taken for an X-ray scan, a standard procedure in drug trafficking investigations involving internal concealment.

The scan confirmed that her abdomen was clean, providing undisputable medical evidence crucial for courtroom presentation. This medical verification sealed the case and strengthened the prosecution’s file for the suspect’s upcoming arraignment.

Why JKIA Is a Hotspot for Drug Interception

Kenya’s JKIA is one of the busiest airports in East and Central Africa, handling thousands of passengers daily from Europe, Asia, and the rest of Africa. Its strategic geographic position makes it both a business hub and an attractive transit point for drug traffickers attempting to move narcotics across continents.

Over the years, Kenyan security agencies, particularly the ANU, have enhanced surveillance through:

• Advanced screening technology

• Increased collaboration with foreign intelligence agencies

• Deployment of specialized canine units

• Random passenger profiling

• Behavior detection training

These measures have played a significant role in disrupting drug trafficking routes and dismantling broader criminal syndicates linked to South America, West Africa, and parts of the Middle East.

The Fight Against Transnational Drug Trafficking

The arrest of Ndunge adds to a growing list of drug mules captured within Kenya’s borders. In the past decade, ANU detectives have intercepted couriers smuggling heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and psychotropic substances through airports, seaports, and land border points.

Authorities say drug couriers are often recruited by well-coordinated cartels who prey on vulnerable individuals, promising quick cash in exchange for transporting pellets internally. The reality, however, is that most of these couriers end up dead, arrested, or abandoned by the syndicates once a shipment is compromised.

Kenyan law imposes severe penalties on narcotics trafficking, including lengthy jail terms. The country continues to tighten anti-drug laws in line with global standards to ensure traffickers face consequences proportionate to the gravity of the crime.

Suspect Awaits Arraignment

Ndunge remains in lawful custody as investigators finalize their case file before presenting her in court. The ANU is expected to charge her with trafficking narcotic drugs—an offense that carries stiff penalties under Kenyan law.

The seizure serves as yet another reminder of the government’s unwavering commitment to dismantling drug networks and keeping dangerous substances off Kenyan streets. As the ANU intensifies surveillance and intelligence operations, traffickers attempting to sneak narcotics into the country will continue to face heightened risks of arrest and prosecution.

Sources;

 People Daily Digital. People DailyOfficial post from Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) via X/Twitter. X (formerly Twitter)+1