Narcotics hidden in candle shipment seized at JKIA
Detectives have intercepted a shipment of narcotics concealed inside large candles at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). In a statement shared by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, the illicit cargo, which was en route to Australia from Bujumbura, Burundi, was seized on Tuesday afternoon during a verification exercise at the DHL Cargo Shed.
According to a statement released by the DCI on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, anti-narcotics officers discovered the drugs hidden inside 10 large candles packed in a carton. Upon further inspection, they found a whitish crystalline substance wrapped in yellow cello tape, which, after testing, was confirmed to be amphetamines.
“DCI anti-narcotics officers based at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Tuesday afternoon seized suspected amphetamines from a shipment destined for Australia from Bujumbura, Burundi, drugs that had been concealed in 10 large candles packed in a carton,” the authorities said.
Authorities are now working to establish the identities of those behind the smuggling attempt and trace the drug trafficking network.
“The discovery was made during a verification exercise at the DHL Cargo Shed in the Cargo area, where tests on the whitish crystalline substance found stashed in the carton and wrapped using a yellow cello tape tested positive for the highly addictive drug. The shipment was seized and further investigations are underway to track down the traffickers,” the DCI statement added.
Past burst at JKIA
This comes days after detectives intercepted a shipment of methamphetamine at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), just days after another drug bust at the facility.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) revealed that the confiscated drugs had an estimated street value of Ksh9.2 million.
According to investigators who uncovered the smuggling operation, the suspects had planned to discreetly transport the narcotics using a courier service.
The illicit cargo, weighing 1.15 kilograms, had been hidden within a larger consignment scheduled for shipment on Monday, July 1, 2024.
“Attempts by a suspect to traffic 1.15kg of methamphetamine through the Jomo Kenyatta Intn’l Airport have proved futile after the concealed parcel stuffed in a bigger consignment was discovered at the FedEx Express warehouse,” the DCI stated.
The agency further disclosed that the operation was successful due to a tip-off received by Anti-Narcotics detectives stationed at JKIA.
“The seizure of the Ksh9.2 million drug in street estimates followed a tip-off to Anti-Narcotics detectives based at JKIA yesterday, prompting a search within the warehouse at the Mitchell Cott Shed,” the statement added.
