Drugs worth Ksh.121M concealed as avocados nabbed in Nairobi, 7 arrested

Police in Nairobi have arrested a Pakistani and an Indian national alongside five Kenyans after they were found in possession of 24 kilograms of cocaine and 1,200 kilograms of ketamine with a joint estimated street value of Ksh.121 million.

Detectives drawn from the DCI's Anti-Narcotics Unit seized the designer drugs at a house in Ngara last week after initially intercepting a Nissan X-Trail, which was ferrying 23 cartons of a white, powdery substance believed to be cocaine, along Wangari Maathai Road on June 17.

The vehicle, which was carrying two occupants, was heading to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) according to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).  

Part of the consignment, according to the DCI, had been disguised as fresh avocado produce scheduled to be smuggled to Malaysia on June 17, 2023.

"It is upon further search at the suspects’ residence that 46 drums stashed with whitish powdery substances packed in clear polythene bags were recovered," the DCI said in a statement.

"In addition, 55 packages in clear polythene bags containing similar powdery substances suspected to be narcotic drugs were also recovered and a further 133 sacks each weighing 25kgs marked sodium bicarbonate."

Forensic detectives later conducted drug analyses to determine the exact weight and composition of the recovered narcotics.

Muhammed Salem Muhammed Hussein (Pakistani), Ashraf Changu (Indian), Latif Mohamed Dawood (Kenyan-Asian), Wesley Silvanus Adwenya, Paul Kivuli Sote, Railings Innocent Ogondi and Moses Liyai Imbwanga were arrested following the drug bust.

The suspects will be arraigned at the JKIA Chief Magistrate's Court on Monday, June 26.

In an unrelated incident, a Thai national was on Thursday arrested at JKIA's Terminal 1c after being found in possession of 3 kilograms of cocaine.

Netima Ngamsap was apprehended just moments before boarding a Singapore-bound plane.

"Hawk-eyed anti-narcotics detectives based at the airport detected the package that was carefully concealed in a false bottom of the woman’s suitcase. The suspect is currently in custody assisting our officers with investigations," said the DCI. 

SLEUTHS RECOVER DRUGS WORTH OVER SH120 MILLION

Seven suspects including two foreigners are in custody following the recovery of a consignment of cocaine weighing 24 kilograms and kentamine weighing over 1,200 kilograms.

The drugs valued at approximately Sh121 million were… pic.twitter.com/dlIi5GzuK6— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) June 23, 2023