NAIROBI, Kenya — Detectives have launched investigations after two kilograms of bhang valued at approximately Sh300,000 were seized at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), in what authorities say is part of an escalating pattern of narcotics smuggling through Kenya’s busiest aviation gateway.
The drugs, shipped from Bangkok, Thailand, had been disguised as natural latex cushions and packed in a carton wrapped in a polythene bag.
They were destined for an address in Embakasi, Nairobi, before Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) officers intercepted the consignment at the cargo section on Tuesday morning. Detectives are now working to identify both the sender and the intended recipient.
Police sources said no arrests had been made by Wednesday but noted that investigations were progressing.
The mode of trafficking puzzled officers, given the availability of cannabis within Kenya and the heightened anti-narcotics operations currently targeting both traffickers and users.
The seizure comes only days after ANU officers intercepted a suspected drug courier attempting to sneak cocaine into the country internally concealed in her stomach. The 34-year-old woman arrived at JKIA from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, before detectives — acting on what they described as “precise intelligence” — moved in.
She was taken to the ANU offices for observation, where she expelled 14 pellets of cocaine within minutes.
A further 14 pellets followed, bringing the total to 28 pellets weighing 912.74 grams and valued at about Sh3.65 million.
An X-ray scan later confirmed her system was clear. She was subsequently charged with trafficking under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act.
These incidents have highlighted concerns about sophisticated trafficking networks exploiting Kenya’s international gateways.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), more than 3.2 tonnes of narcotics were seized in Kenya between 2024 and 2025.
Airport heroin interceptions rose by 27pc over the same period, while JKIA alone recorded more than 40 trafficking-related arrests.
Over the last decade, more than 150 airline-linked smuggling cases have been documented, underscoring persistent vulnerabilities within cross-border travel systems.
The recent spike in cases prompted a meeting between DPP Renson Ingonga and a Kenya Airways (KQ) delegation led by Managing Director Allan Kilavuka.
The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation to disrupt criminal syndicates exploiting the national carrier and Kenya’s transit corridors for both drug trafficking and counter-trafficking in persons (CTIP).
According to the ODPP, the talks emphasised developing a coordinated operational framework that enhances early detection of trafficking victims, improves evidence-handling processes, and reinforces investigative collaboration between prosecutors and aviation stakeholders.
Officials noted that the evolving nature of transnational crime — including the use of commercial flights, cargo routes, and vulnerable human couriers — demands tighter inter-agency coordination and more robust intelligence-sharing mechanisms.
Kenya has recently intensified airport surveillance and operational sweeps in efforts to deter narcotics rings targeting JKIA as a convenient transit point between Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and regional hubs.
Law enforcement agencies say the heightened vigilance is yielding results, but caution that traffickers are equally adapting, often employing new concealment methods and leveraging unsuspecting travellers.
As investigators pursue leads in the Bangkok-to-Nairobi bhang shipment, authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, warning that traffickers increasingly rely on local collaborators to complete their supply chains.
With more airport seizures expected as operations scale up, the latest incidents underscore the ongoing battle between Kenyan authorities and well-organised cross-border narcotics networks seeking to exploit the country’s strategic regional position.
