The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has intercepted a consignment of methamphetamine worth over KSh10 million at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in an operation targeting international drug trafficking networks.
In a statement shared on its X account on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, the DCI said a multi-agency team led by the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) stationed at JKIA conducted a verification exercise on a suspicious parcel at the United Parcel Service-G4S facility within the KQ Shed.
According to investigators, the package was destined for Las Piñas in the Philippines and had been falsely declared as containing “handmade bags and clothes” in an apparent attempt to evade detection.
However, officers uncovered concealed narcotics during a detailed inspection.
“Upon meticulous physical examination in the presence of the joint team, officers uncovered a sinister cargo: white crystal substances carefully concealed inside two handbags, wrapped in clear bags,” the DCI stated.
Preliminary tests later confirmed the substance to be methamphetamine weighing 1,320 grams, with authorities estimating its street value at approximately KSh10.56 million.
“Preliminary tests confirmed the substance to be Methamphetamine, weighing 1,320 grams with an estimated street value of Ksh 10,560,000,” the agency added.
The narcotics consignment has since been seized and detained as evidence while detectives launch investigations aimed at identifying and arresting those behind the trafficking attempt.
The DCI reaffirmed its commitment to combating drug trafficking through coordinated security operations involving multiple agencies.
“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations remains steadfast in its resolve to dismantle these networks through intelligence-driven operations and seamless multi-agency collaboration,” the statement read.
The latest interception adds to a growing list of anti-narcotics operations conducted at JKIA as authorities intensify surveillance against international drug smuggling syndicates using Kenya as a transit route.
