An incident unfolded on September 24th, when Sri Lankan authorities apprehended a 26-year-old Kenyan car dealer in possession of an astonishing stash of cocaine valued at a jaw-dropping Ksh 532,157,188. The captivating tale began as the Kenyan traveler touched down at Sri Lanka’s Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport after a journey originating in Ethiopia, with a stopover in the vibrant hub of Doha, Qatar.
What transformed an ordinary traveler into a headline-grabbing figure was the astonishing discovery made during customs inspection. Concealed within three seemingly innocuous metal cookie tins inside the suspect’s luggage were a total of 180 capsules filled with cocaine. The audacious attempt to smuggle this illicit cargo into the island nation had seemingly gone unnoticed until the meticulous scrutiny of customs authorities uncovered this mind-boggling haul.
Intriguingly, Sri Lankan authorities chose to shroud the identity of the second-hand car dealer in secrecy, adding an element of mystery to the unfolding narrative.
The Kenyan, perhaps driven by misguided ambition or sheer audacity, attempted to utilize the ‘green channel,’ a designated lane meant for passengers carrying items within the admissible duty-free allowance, or those with no restricted or excessive goods. However, this audacious endeavor did not go unnoticed, as the suspicious behavior of our protagonist raised red flags, prompting a thorough inspection.
“He was arrested by customs officers while attempting to exit through the ‘Green Channel’ at the airport based on foreign intelligence received by the Sri Lanka Customs narcotics control unit,” disclosed a report by a reputable Sri Lankan publication. While the ‘green channel’ primarily caters to passengers with no customs formalities, it remains susceptible to random checks, including luggage scans and, when necessary, physical examinations.
Despite the Kenyan’s first-time visit to Sri Lanka, foreign intelligence had already alerted the Customs Narcotics Control Division, culminating in a meticulously planned and targeted arrest. Currently, the man languishes in the custody of the Katunayake Airport Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB), awaiting the next chapter in this unfolding saga—further investigation.
Regrettably, this incident adds another chilling chapter to the disconcerting trend of Kenyan nationals entangled in drug trafficking, particularly within Asian territories. Just a fortnight ago, the news reverberated with the arrest of a Kenyan woman at Bengaluru Airport in India, caught in the act of smuggling a staggering Ksh 211 million worth of cocaine into the country. Not even a month prior, Thailand bore witness to the apprehension of three other Kenyan women attempting to sneak drugs into their nation, underscoring the gravity of the issue on a global Scale.