Officials from India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have confirmed the arrest of a Kenyan national at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai. Authorities discovered 1.57 litres of liquid cocaine concealed within cosmetic bottles.
The seized narcotics are estimated to be worth Ksh238 million. The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, was arrested under India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Authorities are currently investigating the intended recipient of the cocaine and the wider network involved in the smuggling operation.
This arrest follows an intelligence tip-off and highlights the growing trend of sophisticated drug smuggling attempts targeting Indian airports, particularly those involving Kenyan nationals transiting through Addis Ababa.
DRI officers detected the concealed drugs during a routine baggage inspection. The liquid cocaine had been disguised in two bottles labelled as moisturising lotion, exploiting the similar viscosity of the substances.
This latest incident adds to a worrying trend of Kenyan nationals being implicated in international drug trafficking. Just weeks earlier, on April 3, another Kenyan woman was apprehended at an Indian airport with 1.7 kilograms of cocaine, valued at a staggering Ksh225–300 million.
Before that, a separate case at CSMIA (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport) saw a Kenyan woman arrested for smuggling cocaine worth Ksh215 million.
The repeated arrests highlight an alarming escalation in Kenya’s role in global narcotics networks, sparking concerns over the country’s vulnerability to drug cartels.
Authorities believe many arrested couriers are recruited by highly organised criminal networks that prey on vulnerable individuals for drug trafficking.
The prevalence of Kenyan women among these couriers suggests a deliberate recruitment strategy by syndicates seeking individuals less likely to arouse suspicion.
These cases also expose significant vulnerabilities in African transit hubs, such as Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport, which have become key nodes in global drug trafficking routes.
Smugglers exploit weaknesses in airport security and passenger profiling systems to transport narcotics undetected.
The rising number of drug smuggling cases involving Kenyan nationals underscores the urgent need for Kenyan authorities to reassess counter-narcotics strategies and strengthen collaboration with international law enforcement agencies.
