KRA intercepts 52 phones, 3 drones at JKIA

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) seized 52 refurbished mobile phones and three drones at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on October 17, 2026, after Customs officers discovered the items in two backpacks carried by an airport cleaner. The cleaner, attempting to flee, was apprehended and revealed that a female passenger had given her the bags to pass through Customs.

The passenger, who had arrived on an international flight, confirmed handing over the backpacks while using the restroom. Upon review of the passenger's travel documents, it was confirmed she was a frequent traveler. The recovered items included two DJI Mini 3 Pro drones, two controllers, two batteries, and various accessories. Two additional drones, a DJI Air 25, controller, battery, and accessories, were also seized.

The intercepted goods were deposited at the Customs warehouse pending further action. KRA emphasized the use of advanced baggage-scanning technology in detecting concealed goods and the importance of complying with regulatory requirements for importing drones into Kenya. The interception follows other recent Customs enforcement actions at JKIA, including the seizure of 40 smartphones from a passenger arriving from Dubai.