Police intercept miraa concealed as fresh vegetables at JKIA

Officers sort through the 150 cartons that had been labelled 'Fine Beans and Ravaya for export'. [Courtesy]

Security officers at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Tuesday intercepted cartons of miraa concealed under French beans and egg plants.

The officers had been tipped-off over the consignment.

They found the miraa hidden in 150 cartons labelled 'Fine Beans and Ravaya for export', according to a statement from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) that was posted on Twitter.

DCI said they intercepted the cartons in a vehicle with the registration number KAW 122R at the Airways Cargo Export section.

The agency did not reveal where the miraa was headed to.

Upon inspection of the cartons, the officers found miraa packed underneath French beans and egg plants.

Six suspects were arrested during the bust and will be charged accordingly, police said.

The suspects are Ahmed Habib, James Ngure, Duke Mutambo, Raphael Ngotho, Stephen Ngugi and Julius Mulwa.

Miraa – a stimulant – is quasi-legal with some countries listing it as a drug.

The United Kingdom declared it a class C drug, banning imports of the stimulant into the country.

Other countries that have outlawed it include Canada, USA, Sweden, France, Germany and Netherlands.