NAIROBI, Kenya — A suspected drug courier was arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) after detectives from the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) intercepted her upon arrival from Addis Ababa, thwarting an alleged attempt to smuggle nearly one kilogram of cocaine into the country.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the suspect — identified as 34-year-old Muli Ayan Ndunge — was detained shortly after landing, following what investigators described as “precise intelligence” that placed her under immediate surveillance.
She was escorted to the ANU offices for observation, where she expelled 14 pellets of cocaine. Detectives maintained close monitoring, and soon another 14 pellets followed, bringing the total to 28 pellets weighing 912.74 grams, with a street value of approximately Sh3.65 million.
An X-ray scan later confirmed her abdomen was clear. Ndunge remains in custody as detectives finalize preparations for her arraignment.
The arrest coincided with the Kenya National Workshop on System Analysis of Criminal Networks involved in trafficking Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs), dual-use goods, and nuclear materials in East Africa.
The meeting, held at the Safari Park Hotel and presided over by DCI Director Training Adan Guyo on behalf of the Director of Criminal Investigations, brought together policymakers, security experts, and law enforcement agencies.
It is facilitated by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the US Export Control and Related Border Security Assistance Programme.
Participants are undergoing training on advanced tools aimed at detecting, preventing, and disrupting illicit trafficking networks. The workshop also seeks to enhance regional intelligence-sharing and reinforce Kenya’s leadership in tackling emerging global security threats.
Guyo warned that the trafficking of WMD-related materials and dual-use goods remains a “clear and present danger” to Kenya and the wider region. He noted that criminal networks exploit porous borders, weak regulatory frameworks, and gaps in inter-agency coordination to move dangerous materials “with alarming impunity.”
“As law enforcement officers, regulators, prosecutors, and policy makers, we bear collective responsibility for the safety and security of the Kenyan people and, indeed, the global community,” Guyo said. “The proliferation of these materials in the wrong hands could trigger consequences of unimaginable magnitude.”
He further thanked Kenya’s international partners, saying their continued support strengthens the country’s capabilities and contributes to the broader security of East Africa and beyond.
