Woman arrested at JKIA in cocaine smuggling attempt – DCI
By William Muthama, October 4, 2025A 41-year-old Kenyan woman was arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) after she was found attempting to smuggle cocaine to Dubai through what investigators described as a high-risk method of internal concealment.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) confirmed on their X page on Saturday, October 4, 2025, that the woman was flagged minutes before take-off by detectives from the Anti-Narcotics Unit during routine passenger screening.
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“A woman’s attempts to smuggle cocaine to Dubai were foiled after detectives from the Anti-Narcotics Unit flagged her at JKIA minutes before takeoff,” the DCI posted.
High-risk concealment
The DCI revealed that the woman had ingested several pellets of cocaine in a risky attempt to bypass airport security.
Advanced scans detected the hidden narcotics, prompting immediate medical supervision to safeguard her health and recover the substances.
“She turned herself into a smuggling vessel, concealing several pellets of cocaine inside her body in a desperate gamble to outwit airport security. Their suspicions were correct; scans revealed she was carrying the illicit cargo inside her,” the agency stated.
Under medical supervision, the person of interest later excreted three pellets of cocaine, confirming investigators’ fears about the dangers of internal concealment.
The DCI noted that she remains in custody while detectives finalise their probe.
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“Placed under medical supervision, she later excreted three pellets of cocaine, confirming detectives’ worst fears about her risky internal concealment method. Now cooling her heels in custody, her “import–export” mission has ended before it even took off.”
The person of interest remains in custody as investigators work to uncover the full circumstances of the smuggling attempt, including any connections to larger trafficking networks, and will be presented in court once investigations are concluded.
“Meanwhile, detectives are finalising investigations before presenting her in court.”
JKIA, East Africa’s busiest airport, has been a known transit point for drug couriers, prompting the Kenya Airports Authority and DCI to strengthen screening protocols.