A 25-year-old Kenyan woman was arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as she allegedly attempted to smuggle narcotics to India.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the suspect was intercepted by officers from the Anti-Narcotics Unit while preparing to board a flight to Goa, India. A subsequent inspection of her luggage led to the discovery of 1.3 kilograms of cocaine concealed in two smaller bags, wrapped in yellow sellotape.

“The suspect learned the hard way that drug trafficking is a one-way ticket to prison, not a beach holiday,” DCI said in a statement. “She was apprehended by our vigilant detectives during a routine check at JKIA, where her suspicious luggage triggered further scrutiny.”

The woman is currently being held at the JKIA Police Station, where she is undergoing processing and awaits arraignment in court. The confiscated drugs are now being held as evidence.

Authorities have reiterated the serious consequences of trafficking narcotics into India, where such offenses are prosecuted under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act of 1985. The law imposes stringent penalties, including a minimum of 10 years in prison, extendable to 20 years, alongside heavy fines that may exceed KSh 300,000.

Convicted drug offenders are rarely granted bail, parole, or early release under Indian law. Foreign nationals found guilty also face deportation and lifetime bans from re-entry after serving their sentences. Although consular services may be available, embassies have no influence over judicial outcomes.

This arrest comes amid growing concern over the involvement of Kenyan nationals in international drug trafficking, following recent reports about Margaret Nduta, a Kenyan woman facing execution in Vietnam after being convicted for heroin smuggling.