Suspected drug trafficker arrested after ditching 41kg of bhang at JKIA

A suspected drug trafficking attempt at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) was thwarted after a man allegedly fled during baggage inspection.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the individual left behind two suitcases that were later found to contain cannabis.

According to police, the 57-year-old suspect had arrived in Nairobi from Bangkok, Thailand, and cleared immigration without issue.

However, at the customs screening area, the suspect reportedly stepped away during inspection and exited the terminal.

The abandoned luggage prompted a search by Anti-Narcotics Unit officers, who discovered 41 sachets of cannabis sativa weighing 41.7 kilograms concealed in the bags.

A search was immediately launched, and forensic leads helped detectives trace the suspect to a hotel in Nairobi’s South C estate, where he was apprehended.

“He was arrested and escorted to JKIA Police Station, where he is currently in custody,” DCI said in a statement on Sunday.

Authorities said the suspect is undergoing standard processing and is expected to be charged in court.

In a separate incident earlier in January, at least five individuals were arrested in connection with an alleged attempt to traffic cocaine to Madagascar through JKIA.

Police said the arrests led to the recovery of 57 pellets of cocaine, with an estimated street value of Sh3.5 million.

One of the suspects was intercepted at Terminal A1’s central screening area while checking in for a flight to Madagascar.

A body scanner reportedly revealed concealed items, leading to a search that uncovered over 600 grams of the substance.

Police said a field test confirmed the substance as cocaine.

The suspect was questioned by female anti-narcotics officers and is reported to have named another individual based in Nairobi as the recruiter.

Police said the second individual was located along Accra Road in Nairobi and taken into custody.

Further investigations led officers to a beauty shop, where 33 additional pellets were recovered. Three more people were also arrested during the operation.

Police say these cases are part of an ongoing crackdown on drug trafficking networks operating through Nairobi.