KRA officers foil narcotics export bid at JKIA

JKIA arrivals and departure terminal. /FILE
JKIA arrivals and departure terminal. /FILE

A KRA team on Monday morning foiled a drug trafficker's attempt to mail a package loaded with

a narcotic substance through the JKIA in Nairobi.

The 6kg parcel destined for the United Kingdom from Senegal had been marked as dried fish.

It was set for

onward delivery to the UK via Benin through the post office mail service.

Officers

attached to the KRA Customs and Border Control division uncovered it during a routine screening mission at the Postal Corporation of Kenya, JKIA warehouses.

Preliminary tests indicated the substance was bhang but further tests are underway at the taxman's laboratory, said Customs and Border Control commissioner Julius Munyok.

Munyok said the anti-narcotics unit have taken over the investigation and will ensure culprits are brought to book.

“Our officers, assisted by sniffer dogs and technology solutions, have been on very high alert to ensure prohibited substances are not exported or imported through our border points," he said.

He said officers from the Kenya Revenue Authority are manning active surveillance procedures at designated import and export screening zones.

Munyok added that international courier and postal service companies have been asked to strengthen internal surveillance measures to avoid being used as conduits.

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