A Kenyan woman wanted by detectives over suspected narcotics trafficking has been arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) while allegedly attempting to leave the country for Bangladesh with cocaine worth an estimated Sh13.53 million.
Jane Waithera Wateri was intercepted by detectives from the Kenya Airports Criminal Investigations (KACI) unit after a stop order was issued by officers from the National Anti-Narcotics Investigations Bureau (NANIB).
Wateri was preparing to board a flight to Bangladesh when detectives stopped her and conducted a search that led to the recovery of three small bags containing suspected narcotic drugs.
A preliminary field test returned positive for cocaine.
The consignment weighed approximately 3,383 grams and had an estimated street value of Sh13,530,720.
According to the detectives, Wateri had been on the law-enforcement watch list since last year over allegations linked to narcotics trafficking.
She is currently being held at JKIA Police Station as investigators from NANIB and the Financial Investigations Unit (FIU) pursue further leads into the suspected drug trafficking network and seek to establish the full extent of her alleged involvement.
The Director of Kenya Airports Criminal Investigations, Ms B. Kanyai, MBS, DSM, AIG, said KACI would continue working with other law-enforcement agencies to prevent Kenyan airports from being used as conduits for the trafficking of narcotics.
She warned individuals attempting to use the country’s airports to facilitate the illicit drug trade that they would face legal action.
Investigations into the case are ongoing.
