By:Farida Ali
A multi-agency security operation has intensified the fight against international drug trafficking along Kenya’s Coast following the arrest of a suspected drug courier at Moi International Airport in Mombasa while allegedly attempting to smuggle cocaine to Dubai.
The suspect was intercepted moments before boarding an outbound flight after security agencies acted on intelligence regarding the planned trafficking operation.
According to Coast Regional Police Commander Ali Nuno, the suspect had swallowed 44 pellets of cocaine with an estimated street value of Sh1.5 million. He was immediately placed under medical observation, leading to the successful recovery of the narcotics.
A follow-up search at the suspect’s residence uncovered an additional 16 cocaine pellets, bringing the total haul to 60 pellets.
Speaking during a press briefing at the Coast Regional Police Headquarters in Mombasa, Nuno described the arrest as a major breakthrough in ongoing efforts to dismantle transnational drug trafficking syndicates operating through Kenya.
“The suspect had swallowed 44 pellets of cocaine, which were safely recovered while under medical observation. Subsequent investigations led officers to his residence, where another 16 pellets were recovered,” Nuno said.
The suspect remains in police custody and is expected to face drug trafficking charges once investigations are concluded. The case is already before the courts.
Investigators believe the trafficking network operates across several countries, with Ethiopia, through the Moyale border, serving as one of the principal transit corridors before narcotics are transported to Kenya’s Coast for onward shipment to international destinations. Authorities have also linked some drug consignments to Kenya’s western region, highlighting the extensive reach of the criminal network.
Commander Nuno revealed that security agencies have arrested 27 suspects connected to narcotics trafficking over the past three months. Those arrested include five suspected drug kingpins and 10 drug couriers believed to be working for larger organized criminal syndicates.
The latest operation forms part of an intensified regional anti-drug campaign that has yielded significant seizures between April and June. During the period, authorities confiscated more than 10.7 kilograms of cannabis sativa, 7 kilograms of heroin, 1.336 kilograms of cocaine, 204 kilograms of methamphetamine, and an additional 37.282 kilograms of cocaine in separate operations.
Police say investigations remain ongoing as authorities pursue additional suspects linked to the wider international drug trafficking network operating through Kenya’s Coast.
