NAIROBI: Two Kenyans have been arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport while trying to traffic methamphetamine narcotics valued at Sh24 million.
Peris Anyango Omondi and Christine Awino were travelling to Jarkata, Indonesia when they were nabbed with the narcotics wrapped around their groins police said.
Police at the airport said Ms Anyango was carrying 1.4 kilos of the drug valued at Sh11.9 million while Awino had 1.5 kilos of the drug valued at Sh12.5 million.
Their passports showed they are frequent visitors to the region. When they were nabbed, they told police they planned to use Abu Dhabi route to reach Jarkata.
The two were to fly aboard an Etihad flight. They were stopped at the screening point and found carrying the drugs.
Anti-Narcotics Unit head Hamis Masa said they are investigating to establish if the suspects have more of the drugs in their areas of residence.
"We have asked the court to give us more time to hold them as we carry out investigations on them. We do not know if they had trafficked more," said Masa.
Methamphetamine is highly addictive and can cause serious implications on human body.
Methamphetamine has been placed under the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances Treaty.
In abuse the drug Methamphetamine increases alertness, concentration, energy, and in high doses, can induce euphoria, enhance self-esteem and increase libido.
Kenya police have in the past arrested suspects manufacturing the drugs.
The arrest is the latest in a series of others that have happened in the past days. Most traffickers arrested at JKIA are usually on transit.
Cases of drug trafficking through JKIA have been on the rise with police making several arrests and seizures. Anti-narcotics police officers say most of the drugs being consumed in Nairobi originate Tanzania through the Namanga border.
The traffickers had also been avoiding airports for roads, which are poorly manned to traffic the drugs.
Most of the narcotics that are seized are cocaine and heroin.
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Statistics show police at the airport seized drugs valued more than Sh100 million last year alone. Most of those arrested were passengers who were on transit.
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