Police nab South African woman with cocaine worth Sh17 million at JKIA

NAIROBI, KENYA: A 46-year-old South African woman has been arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after being found with cocaine valued at Sh17 million.

Police said Ms Elize de’ Jager was on transit from Sao Paolo, Brazil to Cotonou, Benin when she was detained at the weekend.

The plane with de’Jager had stopped at JKIA, Nairobi when she was intercepted at screening point.

According to police, a white powder she had in her traveling bags was confirmed to be cocaine and weighing four kilograms.

Airport CID boss Joseph Ngisa said the woman was detained by his officers after they found the powder.

“She has appeared in court and remanded until Friday when we go back for her to formally take plea,” said Ngisa.

The arrest is the latest in the crackdown on drug trafficking using the airport.

Police at JKIA have in the past months made arrests and seizures of drugs that are on transit.

Most of the narcotics that are seized are cocaine and heroin.

Statistics show police at the airport seized drugs valued more than Sh50 million last year alone. Most of those arrested were passengers who were on transit.