A Ugandan national has been extradited to Kenya to face serious drug-related charges in a cross-border sting operation that underscores the increasing use of courier services in global drug trafficking.
When she arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), the suspect, a woman who reportedly planned the export of a package containing illegal substances, was detained right away.
Her extradition follows months of coordinated investigations between Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), and Interpol. The breakthrough came after a suspicious shipment intercepted at the DHL cargo facility at JKIA in May 2023 was traced back to her. The package, deceptively labeled as 25 shower curtains and destined for Bahrain, was found to contain a greenish, plant-based substance that tested positive for banned psychotropic drugs.
Appearing before Principal Magistrate Irene Gichobi at the JKIA Law Courts on Monday, the prosecution successfully requested to hold the suspect for three working days. According to Prosecuting Counsel John Tago, the detention will allow investigators to complete the scientific analysis of the substances in the suspect’s presence and collect key witness statements.
The parcel, reportedly dispatched from Kitengela on the outskirts of Nairobi, was part of a growing trend in which traffickers exploit courier systems and mail services to transport drugs internationally. The concealment technique, masking contraband within mundane household items, is a well-known smuggling tactic that authorities say is on the rise.
Officials believe the suspect is part of a wider drug trafficking network targeting international markets, and her arrest is being treated as a significant lead. The case is scheduled for mention on August 11, when charges may be formally preferred.
As Kenya tightens its grip on drug smuggling, this case signals a no-tolerance policy for fugitives who attempt to exploit cross-border loopholes and commercial shipping services to move illicit substances undetected.
