Indian Authorities Detain Kenyan Woman for Smuggling Cocaine Valued at Ksh 281 Million

On Thursday, December 28, an Indian airport apprehended a Kenyan woman for allegedly smuggling cocaine worth Ksh 281 million.

The Kenyan woman, arriving on a flight from Nairobi to Mumbai, found herself in custody for allegedly smuggling a jaw-dropping Ksh 281 million (Rs 14.90 crore) worth of cocaine. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) orchestrated the arrest, guided by intelligence that led them to scrutinize the particular passenger. Their thorough inspection bore fruit as authorities unearthed 1490 grams of a mysterious white powder, cunningly concealed within unsuspecting hair conditioner and body wash bottles.

Swift action ensued with the immediate arrest of the woman, as investigations unfolded to unravel the intricacies of the alleged drug smuggling operation. The accused now faces charges under the stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act of 1985 and has been remanded in judicial custody, awaiting legal proceedings. This incident adds to a series of drug-related concerns involving Kenyan citizens on foreign soil throughout 2023.

“The ingenious concealment of the drugs involved two black polythene packets cleverly placed within a hair conditioner bottle and a body wash bottle. The passenger has been arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act of 1985 and subsequently remanded to judicial custody,” the report stated.

The global crackdown on drug syndicates remains relentless, with authorities determined to dismantle illicit networks. Notably, in June 2023, Indian authorities detained another Kenyan woman at New Delhi airport for attempting to smuggle a staggering Ksh 380 million worth of cocaine. Her ingenious method involved concealing the illicit substance within seemingly innocent whisky bottles, showcasing the resourcefulness of those involved in such operations.

On September 24, a Kenyan car dealer was nabbed at Sri Lanka’s Bandaranaike International Airport with a considerable quantity of cocaine weighing about 4 kilograms and valued at approximately Ksh 24 million.