Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested a woman who was attempting to smuggle cocaine out of the country.
The suspect, identified as Anna Nekesa Kisaka, 41, was apprehended at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi. She was preparing to fly to Dubai when she was intercepted by the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU).
The arrest was the result of a tip-off and a crucial security measure. Ms Kisaka was subjected to a thorough body scan, which immediately raised suspicions.
The scan revealed foreign objects concealed within her body, a method known as ‘ingesting’ drugs. This tactic is extremely dangerous and often life-threatening to the smuggler.
Following the alert from the scan, the suspect was placed under medical observation and later Ms Kisaka eventually excreted three pellets from her body and the contents of the pellets were positively identified as cocaine.
The DCI later confirmed the operation, tweeting:
“Detectives from the DCI’s Anti-Narcotics Unit have arrested Anna Nekesa Kisaka, 41, at JKIA for trafficking narcotics. She was intercepted after a body scan confirmed she had ingested cocaine pellets.”
Drug mules swallow pre-packaged pellets of narcotics, hoping to bypass standard baggage and body checks. The sheer risk involved highlights the desperation of those caught up in the international drug trade. If a pellet ruptures inside the body, the resulting overdose is often fatal.
The three pellets retrieved from Ms Kisaka are now being held as exhibit evidence in the case.
This type of interception is not an isolated event. JKIA, being a major regional hub, is frequently targeted by international drug syndicates attempting to transit narcotics.
Recent cases involving similar methods include:
- Wendy Mbeke Muli (2025): A 26-year-old woman intercepted at JKIA after attempting to smuggle 626.65 grams of cocaine in eight ingested pellets.
- Macharia Margaret Nduta (2023): Arrested with over two kilos of cocaine hidden in modified luggage while transiting through the region, a case that tragically led to a death sentence in Vietnam.
These incidents demonstrate the persistent pressure on the ANU to stay ahead of smugglers’ increasingly sophisticated techniques.
Ms Kisaka is currently being processed by the police. The focus of the continuing investigation is to identify and dismantle the wider drug trafficking network that she was working for.
The 41-year-old now faces severe charges related to drug trafficking and is being prepared for her appearance in court. The DCI remains committed to its mission of disrupting all forms of criminal activity at the nation’s entry and exit points.
