Kenyan customs officials have intercepted a consignment of suspected narcotic substances with an estimated street value of Ksh 25.45 million at the Eldoret International Airport. The consignment, shipped from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, was declared as cosmetics destined for Mombasa. However, upon inspection, the consignment was found to contain a mixture of items concealed among the declared consumer products.
The consignment comprised 141 items packed in different forms, including soap-like blocks, gel-filled containers, and powders. According to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), further examination identified gaps in the accompanying documentation, making it difficult to establish the parties behind the shipment. The shipment was declared as one piece weighing approximately 27.2 kilogrammes, originating from Dubai and destined for Mombasa.
Tests conducted on two batches by the Government Chemist Laboratory in Kisumu came out positive for controlled substances. Thirteen blue, soap-like blocks weighing 1,381.01 grammes tested positive for methamphetamine and were assigned an estimated street value of Ksh 11.05 million. A further 14 maroon gel containers weighing 4,802.86 grammes tested positive for amphetamine, with an estimated street value of Ksh 14.41 million.
However, lab tests revealed that 24 containers of white powder, 24 containers of blue powder, 28 grey flaky fragments, 24 light-green powder-filled envelopes, 14 brown gel containers, and other assorted packages did not contain narcotic or psychotropic substances. The KRA stated that the consignment had been handed over to the Anti-Narcotics Unit of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) at Eldoret International Airport for further investigation and enforcement action.
This is the second time in a space of one week that illicit trade and tax evasion schemes have been foiled at the airport, which also serves as a key logistics facility. Over the weekend, customs officials intercepted 53,607 high-end smartphones that had been under-declared with intent to evade taxes amounting to Ksh 21.5 million. The airport has been a significant location for intercepting illicit goods.
The successful interception of the consignment is a testament to the efforts of the KRA and other agencies in preventing the smuggling of illicit goods into the country. The authorities have been working to enhance their surveillance and inspection capabilities to detect and prevent such consignments from entering the country. The DCI will lead further investigations into the matter.
The Eldoret International Airport plays a crucial role in Kenya's logistics and trade, and the authorities are working to ensure that it is not used for illicit activities. The government has been working to strengthen its laws and regulations to prevent the smuggling of goods, including narcotics, into the country. The public is urged to report any suspicious activities to the authorities.
Key points
- - The consignment had an estimated street value of Ksh 25.45 million. - The consignment was shipped from Dubai and declared as cosmetics. - This is the second major interception at Eldoret Airport in one week.
