Wanted Woman Arrested at JKIA With Cocaine Worth Ksh 13.5 Million

A wanted Kenyan woman, Jane Waithera Wateri, has been arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) while allegedly attempting to leave the country for Bangladesh with cocaine worth approximately Ksh 13.5 million.

Detectives from the Kenya Airports Criminal Investigations (KACI) intercepted Wateri after the National Anti-Narcotics Investigations Bureau (NANIB) issued a stop order over alleged trafficking in narcotic drugs.

“A wanted Kenyan woman who has been on the radar of detectives since last year has been arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), as she attempted to leave the country for Bangladesh with 3383 grams of cocaine valued at approximately Sh13.53 million concealed in three small bags,” DCI stated.

Cocaine Seized Before Suspect Boarded Flight

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), KACI detectives stopped Wateri at the airport as she prepared to board a flight to Bangladesh.

During the interception, officers searched the suspect and recovered three small bags containing suspected narcotic drugs. A preliminary field test subsequently returned positive for cocaine.

“Wateri was preparing to board a flight to Bangladesh when detectives brought her journey to an abrupt halt. A search conducted upon her interception led to the recovery of three small bags containing suspected narcotic drugs,” the Directorate said.

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The recovered cocaine weighed approximately 3,383 grams, while the DCI estimated its street value at Ksh 13,530,720.

Detectives Probe Trafficking Network

Meanwhile, NANIB detectives and officers from the Financial Investigations Unit (FIU) have intensified efforts to establish the source of the cocaine and determine whether other people were involved in the suspected trafficking operation.

Beyond the seizure, investigators will also pursue additional leads to establish the full extent of the suspected narcotics network.

“The suspect, who has been on the law-enforcement watch list since last year, is currently being held at JKIA Police Station, as detectives from NANIB and the Financial Investigations Unit (FIU) pursue further leads to establish the full extent of the suspected narcotics trafficking network,” DCI added.

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KACI Director Ms. B. Kanyai, MBS, DSM, AIG, said the airport investigations unit would continue working with other law-enforcement agencies to prevent Kenyan airports from becoming conduits for narcotics trafficking.

Additionally, Kanyai warned that authorities would take action against people seeking to use the country’s airports as gateways for the illicit narcotics trade.

As investigations continue, police are holding Wateri at JKIA Police Station while detectives pursue further leads in the suspected cocaine trafficking case.

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A photo collage of Jane Waithera Wateri arrested at JKIA with cocaine worth Ksh 13.5 million. PHOTO/ DCI X