A Kenyan woman who has been on the radar of detectives since last year has been arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) while allegedly attempting to smuggle 3,383 grams of cocaine to Bangladesh.
Jane Waithera Wateri was intercepted by detectives from the Kenya Airports Criminal Investigations (KACI) following a stop order issued by the National Anti-Narcotics Investigations Bureau (NANIB) over suspected drug trafficking.
Wateri was preparing to board a flight to Bangladesh when detectives stopped her and conducted a search, recovering three small bags containing suspected narcotics.
A preliminary field test returned positive for cocaine. The consignment weighed approximately 3,383 grams and had an estimated street value of Sh13,530,720.
The suspect is currently being held at the JKIA Police Station as detectives from NANIB and the Financial Investigations Unit (FIU) pursue further leads to establish the extent of the suspected narcotics trafficking network.
KACI Director Ms B. Kanyai, MBS, DSM, AIG, said the agency, in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, remains committed to preventing Kenyan airports from being used as conduits for narcotics trafficking.
She warned individuals seeking to use the country's airports to facilitate the illicit drug trade that they would face the full force of the law.
