Woman Arrested For Swallowing Ksh16.2M Cocaine Ordered To Excrete It At JKIA

Anti-Narcotics detectives based at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi are set to arraign a 26-year-old woman, Wendy Mbeke Muli, who was arrested while attempting to smuggle cocaine by ingesting drug pellets in a bid to evade detection.

According to a statement by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Mbeke was intercepted on the morning of June 13, 2025, at around 10:00 a.m., just moments before boarding an outbound flight.

Her suspicious behaviour during routine screening prompted officers to subject her to a thorough security check.

Cocaine which was to be smuggled out of Kenya via JKIA /DCI

"Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Anti-Narcotics detectives are preparing for arraignment, a 26-year-old drug peddler, Wendy Mbeke Muli, who attempted to smuggle cocaine by ingesting pellets, in a desperate move aimed at evading arrest," stated DCI in part.

"Mbeke, whose confidence was clearly larger than her carry-on luggage, was intercepted by hawk-eyed detectives on June 13, 2025, at around 10:00 a.m., just minutes before boarding an outbound flight. Her uneasy demeanour during a routine screening set off alarm bells."

Subsequent investigations revealed that she had concealed foreign substances inside her body, leading to her placement under strict medical observation.

Later that day, Mbeke excreted two pellets while under supervision. On June 14, she passed six additional pellets, bringing the total to eight.

Forensic analysis confirmed the pellets contained cocaine weighing approximately 626.65 grams. Current market value estimates it at around Ksh16.2 million.

"Following this, she was subjected to a thorough search. It was soon established that she had concealed foreign substances inside her body cavity, prompting immediate medical observation," added the statement.

"Later that day, Mbeke requested to use the washrooms, where she excreted two pellets. The following day, June 14, while still under observation, she excreted six more pellets, bringing the total to eight pellets."

She is expected to be arraigned on Monday, June 16, 2025, to face drug trafficking-related charges.

On May 2, 2025, DCI officers arrested a 25-year-old Kenyan woman, Caroline Wanjiku Mwangi, at JKIA after attempting to smuggle cocaine to Goa, India. The suspect was intercepted by officers from the Anti-Narcotics Unit during a routine screening as she prepared to board an outbound flight. 

"Caroline Wanjiku Mwangi, 25, learned the hard way that smuggling drugs is a fast track to jail time, not a holiday in the sun. The aspiring drug mule was nabbed by eagle-eyed Anti-Narcotics Unit detectives at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as she attempted to board a flight to Goa, India," DCI revealed in part.

"Her travel plans hit turbulence when sharp-sighted detectives flagged her down for a routine check. A quick inspection of her luggage led to the discovery of two suspicious smaller bags tucked inside."

Preliminary spot tests confirmed the officers' suspicions that the substance was cocaine, weighing approximately 1.3 kilograms. The narcotics were wrapped in yellow cellotape and hidden in a manner consistent with international drug trafficking methods.

In recent months, Kenyans have come under increased international scrutiny due to a surge in drug trafficking incidents involving citizens abroad. A significant number of those apprehended have been intercepted either at JKIA or at airports in countries such as India.

In several instances, Kenyan nationals have faced severe consequences in foreign jurisdictions, including capital punishment, most notably the case of Margaret Nduta in Vietnam.