Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested a United States citizen for swallowing cocaine pellets in an attempt to traffic drugs between Alabama and Saudi Arabia.
The suspect was captured after a staff member at Australia’s Nairobi Hospital provided crucial information that led to his arrest. The suspect had been admitted to the hospital on Sunday, February 16, by a friend after showing signs of a medical emergency related to drug consumption.
Medical personnel quickly transferred him for further treatment. A hospital doctor immediately alerted anti-narcotics officers at the DCI Headquarters, who closely monitored the suspect’s medical examination.
During an endoscopy procedure, the doctors discovered three cocaine pellets hidden in the suspect’s rectum. The total weight of the recovered drugs was 57.98 grams.
DCI officers took possession of the pellets and documented the case. Medical professionals are now assisting the suspect in expelling an additional pellet lodged in his small intestines.
Detectives gathered from their interrogation that the suspect had stayed at a short-term rental apartment in Westlands, Nairobi, before his arrest.
His plan was to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight scheduled for 6 p.m. the previous day, but his unexpected illness forced him to seek medical attention.
According to police reports, the suspect intended to reach Saudi Arabia by transiting through Addis Ababa. His travel documents and personal belongings remain in police custody until he recovers, after which he will face formal drug trafficking charges.
The arrest of the American citizen came shortly after another major drug interception at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
DCI officers stationed at the airport confiscated a suspicious shipment destined for Australia. The consignment, originating from Burundi, contained drugs suspected to be amphetamines.
A verification exercise conducted on Tuesday confirmed that the whitish crystalline substance in the package tested positive for the highly addictive drug.
The intercepted shipment was disguised as 10 large candles packed inside a carton. However, law enforcement officers could not immediately identify the individuals behind the trafficking attempt. Investigations are now underway to track down those responsible for the illegal shipment.
Authorities are intensifying their crackdown on international drug networks operating through Kenya, particularly those using creative methods to smuggle narcotics across borders.
These cases highlight the growing problem of drug trafficking in the region, with Kenya increasingly being used as a transit hub. Law enforcement agencies continue to step up efforts to dismantle such networks, ensuring that suspects face the full force of the law.
The DCI remains vigilant in its pursuit of traffickers and is working closely with international agencies to curb the flow of illegal drugs across global markets.
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