Eldoret Airport on the spot again as Ksh 25M drug consignment intercepted

Customs officials at Eldoret International Airport intercepted a suspected drug consignment with an estimated street value of Ksh 25.45 million. The KRA customs officials revealed that the shipment, originating from Dubai and headed for Mombasa, was initially declared as cosmetics. Upon X-ray scanning and physical inspection, the consignment, consisting of 141 items packed in different forms, was found to contain a mix of items concealed within cosmetic products.

The KRA noted gaps in the documentation, making it challenging to identify the parties behind the shipment. Tests conducted on two batches by the Government Chemist Laboratory in Kisumu confirmed the presence of controlled substances. The first batch included 13 soap-like blocks weighing 1,381.01 grammes, testing positive for methamphetamine with an estimated street value of Ksh 11.05 million.

The second batch comprised 14 maroon gel containers weighing 4,802.86 grammes, testing positive for amphetamine with an estimated street value of Ksh 14.41 million. The remaining packages were identified as harmless. The consignment has been handed over to the Anti-Narcotics Unit of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for further investigation and enforcement action.

This marks the second time in a week that illicit trade and tax evasion schemes have been thwarted at Eldoret International Airport, which serves as a crucial logistics hub. Earlier this weekend, customs officials intercepted 53,607 high-end smartphones under-declared for tax evasion, amounting to Ksh 21.5 million.