KSh25.45 Million Drug Consignment Intercepted at Eldoret Airport
KRA said the shipment contained 141 items packed in different forms, including soap-like blocks, gel-filled containers and packages containing powders.
KRA customs officials at Eldoret International Airport intercept KSh25.45 million narcotics shipment from Dubai disguised as cosmetics destined for Mombasa. Photo: KBC.
By Robert Mutasi
Customs officials at Eldoret International Airport have intercepted a consignment containing narcotic substances valued at an estimated KSh25.45 million in the latest crackdown on illicit trade through the facility.
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) said the shipment originated from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and had been declared as cosmetics destined for Mombasa.
The consignment was flagged during X-ray screening before customs officers conducted a physical inspection.
KRA said the shipment contained 141 items packed in different forms, including soap-like blocks, gel-filled containers and packages containing powders. The items had been concealed among goods declared as ordinary consumer products.
The shipment had been declared as one package weighing approximately 27.2 kilograms.
Investigators also found gaps in the accompanying documentation. KRA said the information provided about the shipper and consignee was limited and could not be sufficiently verified.
“Further examination identified gaps in the accompanying documentation, including limited verifiable information on the shipper and consignee,” KRA said.
Samples from the suspected substances were submitted to the Government Chemist Laboratory in Kisumu for testing.
The laboratory confirmed the presence of controlled substances in two batches.
KRA said 13 blue, soap-like blocks weighing 1,381.01 grams tested positive for methamphetamine. The consignment was assigned an estimated street value of KSh11.05 million.
Another 14 maroon gel containers weighing 4,802.86 grams tested positive for amphetamine. Their estimated street value was placed at KSh14.41 million.
The two batches therefore had a combined estimated street value of KSh25.45 million.
However, laboratory analysis showed that several other items in the consignment did not contain narcotic or psychotropic substances.
These included 24 containers of white powder, 24 containers of blue powder, 28 grey flaky fragments, 24 light-green powder-filled envelopes and 14 brown gel containers, alongside other assorted packages.
The recovered consignment has since been handed over to the Anti-Narcotics Unit of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) at Eldoret International Airport.
The DCI unit is expected to continue with investigations and take appropriate enforcement action.
The interception is the second major case involving illicit trade detected at Eldoret International Airport within a week.
Over the weekend, KRA customs officers intercepted 53,607 smartphones that had allegedly been under-declared in an attempt to evade taxes amounting to KSh21.5 million.
The latest cases have placed renewed attention on cargo screening and customs enforcement at the airport, which serves as an important logistics and cargo handling facility in the region.
Investigators are expected to establish the identities of the individuals behind the latest shipment, trace its intended recipients and determine how the suspected narcotics were concealed and transported into Kenya.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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