KRA officials seize narcotics in postal mail package at JKIA

Nairobi: Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officers have foiled an attempt by drug traffickers to export a postal mail package loaded with a narcotic substance at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

The officers, attached to the KRA Customs and Border Control division, on a routine screening mission at the Postal Corporation of Kenya, JKIA Warehouses, seized the 6kgs parcel destined for the United Kingdom from Senegal.

The carefully concealed package, marked as dried fish, had been delivered for onward delivery to the UK via Benin through the Post Office mail service, from a Senegalese address.

Speaking when he confirmed the seizure, KRA Customs and Border Control Commissioner said preliminary tests have identified the narcotic substance as Cannabis Sativa (Bhang) and added that further tests are now underway at the Authority’s Laboratory, to positively identify the contents.

Following the seizure, the Authority has reiterated its alert, to international courier and postal service companies to exercise internal surveillance measures to avoid being used as transport conduits by unscrupulous drug traffickers.

Security agencies drawn from the Anti-Narcotics Unit have now taken over the investigation process.

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“Our officers, assisted by sniffer dogs and technology solutions, have been on very high alert to ensure that prohibited substances are not exported or imported through our border points. The discovery at the Postal Corporation facility will be further investigated to ensure that the culprits are brought to book,” Commissioner Customs and Border Control said.

At all border points, the Commissioner, confirmed that KRA officers are maintaining active surveillance procedures at designated import and export screening zones.

All parcels and letters shipping through any of the local entry points, he added will continue to be subjected to mandatory screening procedures.