Kenya Airports Police Unit officers at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) intercepted a consignment of suspected narcotic drugs during a multi-agency inspection exercise at a cargo warehouse.
The operation took place on April 30, 2026 at the FedEx inbound warehouse cargo shed. At the time, officers and other stakeholders were conducting routine verification of shipments.
During the exercise, officers flagged a parcel shipped from Canada to Utawala, Nairobi. The parcel was declared as “design relaxed flare jean fit.”
However, upon inspection, the consignment was found to contain a greenish plant material concealed in a clear polythene bag.
Preliminary testing indicate that the substance was cannabis, weighing approximately 6,050 grams, with an estimated street value of Sh1,815,267.
The narcotics were immediately seized by anti-narcotics unit officers. Investigations have also been launched to identify the sender and intended recipient of the illegal shipment.
Police said the operation is part of ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking through Kenya’s international airports.
It is not clear why the sender sent bhang from Canada to Nairobi. Most of the time, such narcotics are sent from Nairobi to Canada and other parts of the world.
A team of detectives are pursuing the JKIA matter to get more information.
Multiple agencies have increased their operations to address cases of drug trafficking and consumption in the country. This has led to the seizure of dozens of kilos of narcotics.
Statistics show the quantity of dangerous drugs seized dropped by 41.2 per cent to 15,791 kilograms in 2025 from 26,858 kilograms in 2024.
Police have been arresting suspects and seizing narcotics and alcohol in a new drive across the country.
President William Ruto, in his New Year address delivered from Eldoret State Lodge on December 31, also declared alcohol and drug abuse a national emergency that threatens public health, national security, productivity, and the social fabric of the country.
He also noted alarming statistics showing that one in six Kenyans aged 15-65 uses at least one substance of abuse, with over 4.7 million people affected, and that initiation into harmful use often begins in the teenage years.
