A Kenyan woman has been arrested at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, India, after allegedly attempting to smuggle cocaine by ingesting six drug-filled capsules. The woman, who had flown from Nairobi, was intercepted on Friday morning by officers from India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), acting on a tip-off.
Although an initial search of her luggage and clothing revealed no contraband, the officers’ suspicions were aroused, prompting further interrogation. It was during this questioning that the woman reportedly confessed to having swallowed the drug capsules before boarding her flight.
Authorities quickly sought and received permission from the Esplanade court to admit the suspect to JJ Hospital. There, medical staff safely retrieved the six capsules from her stomach. Laboratory tests confirmed that the capsules contained a total of 665.5 grams of cocaine.
A DRI official said the woman is believed to be part of a larger drug smuggling network operating between Kenya and India. “It appears she was a part of a wider drug smuggling racket operating from Kenya,” the official noted, adding that investigations are ongoing to identify the intended recipient of the drugs in Mumbai and to uncover any links to international trafficking operations.
This incident mirrors a similar case reported in April at the same airport, where another Kenyan woman was caught with cocaine valued at approximately KSh270 million. In that case, the suspect had flown in via Doha and was arrested after exhibiting signs of anxiety, which led to the discovery of drugs hidden in her luggage.
Indian authorities have since ramped up surveillance on international arrivals, especially from regions identified as high-risk for drug trafficking. Cocaine is classified as a prohibited substance under Indian law, and penalties vary based on quantity. Possession of a “commercial quantity” as in this case can attract prison terms of up to 20 years and heavy fines.
Kenyan authorities have not yet commented on the incident or confirmed whether investigations are underway domestically.
The latest arrest underscores growing concerns about Kenya’s role as a transit hub in the global drug trade, prompting calls for increased international cooperation to combat narcotics trafficking.
