Kenya deports seven Nigerians over drug trafficking claims

At least seven Nigerians have been deported over claims of drug trafficking and possession.

Police and immigration officials said they were deported between March 18 and 21 in an operation staged in estates in Nairobi. 

They were also accused of being in the country illegally and being involved in cyber crimes and money laundering.

This followed a crackdown targeting suspects of drug trafficking and possession.

Officials said multi-agency teams are pursuing more suspects who have been mentioned in the business. 

Directorate of Criminal Investigations director Mohamed Amin said their operations are progressing well and warned no one will be spared. 

"We have made good progress in the ongoing nationwide enforcement program against illicit alcohol, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. We will not stop," he said.

"Teams processed the deportation and removal of foreign nationals involved in drug trafficking, money laundering and cyber-crime activities."

The Investigations Department at Nyayo House reported that some foreigners had become a nuisance to the public and law enforcement as some had sneaked back into the country after being declared persona non grata and deported last year. 

The department said some of them did not have valid immigration status in the country while others had been involved in credit card fraud and sale of drugs within Nairobi estates while were arrested in possession of forged documents, fake passports and fake dollars. 

Police said they had also arrested two women with over 1.5 kilos of heroin with a street value of approximately Sh7.5 million, a weighing scale and assorted packaging material.

Another person was arrested in Ruaka.

He was arrested while on a drop-off mission aboard his vehicle with cannabis and pills (synthetic drugs likely to be ecstasy). 

The suspect took plea on March 20, 2024, at JKIA law courts and was granted a Sh500,000 bond and a surety of the same amount. 

His motor vehicle was seized as part of the exhibit.

Police said they are worried about Kenyan women being lured into drug trafficking by foreigners all in the name of making quick money out of it. 

The team expressed their concerns over women even involving their children and other relatives in the business to improve their livelihood and lifestyle. 

The DCI’s Anti-Narcotics Unit revealed that in a series of operations conducted in just two weeks, they had recovered drugs from just but a few culprits. 

Some officers revealed that the recoveries they made in the 14-plus days were what they said would previously be recovered through months.