NAIROBI, Kenya – Authorities at the Namanga One Stop Border Post have intercepted a live python that was concealed inside a wooden box falsely declared as motor vehicle spare parts aboard a passenger bus travelling from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The discovery was made during a routine multi-agency inspection at the border, where officers flagged the suspicious cargo and proceeded to search the vehicle.
The wooden crate, which had been labelled as mechanical components, was found to contain a live snake.
Security officials said the interception led to the immediate arrest of the bus driver and conductor for questioning, while the intended recipient of the consignment remains unidentified as investigations continue.
“Upon reaching the Namanga border post, the multi-agency team, during search, intercepted a wooden box containing a live snake,” a police officer said.
“It was established that the consignment had travelled from Dar es Salaam to Kenya. The owner has not yet been identified, but we have taken the bus driver and conductor into custody at Namanga Police Station for further investigations.”
A border management official, who also spoke on the incident, said the find was made during a routine inspection of the transit bus operated by KIDIA One Express.
“Members of the joint operations committee, while undertaking routine rummaging of the bus, intercepted a consignment labelled as motor vehicle spare parts,” the official said.
“Upon further inquiry, it was found to contain a live snake.”
The python has since been secured by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), which is expected to take custody of the reptile as standard procedure, while authorities continue probing the origin, intended destination, and purpose of the concealed shipment.
