Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives on Tuesday seized a 1.15 kilogramme consignment of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of Ksh 9.2 million after an unidentified suspect attempted to sneak it through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
In a statement, the DCI confirmed that that the drugs were concealed in a parcel stashed in an even bigger package which was subsequently recovered from a warehouse located near the facility.
According to the DCI, the seizure came after a tip off from members of the public. DCI in coordination with detectives from the Anti-Narcotic unit subsequently initiated an operation to seize the drugs.
"The seizure of the Sh9.2 million drug in street estimates followed a tip-off to Anti-Narcotics detectives based at JKIA yesterday, prompting a search within the warehouse," the statement read in part.
Following the bust, detectives launched a manhunt for the suspect who was still at large by the time of publishing this article.
"Investigation is ongoing to identify the trafficker and intended destination," the statement read in part.
According to the National Council Against Drug Abuse (NACADA), methamphetamine (meth) is a harmful drug that affects the central nervous system.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) describes it as a form of a white, odorless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that easily dissolves in water or alcohol. It can be smoked, snorted, injected, or taken orally and is often used with other substances.
A report published in May by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), a United States based organization, meth can cause considerable health problems that can sometimes result in death.
The users may experience a temporary sense of heightened euphoria, alertness, and energy. This is because meth increases the amount of dopamine, a natural chemical, in the brain.
The report further explains Dopamine as a chemical involved in body movement, motivation, and reinforcing rewarding behaviors.
The drug also increases blood pressure and heart and respiratory rates.
Users who are more addicted mostly experience anxiety, paranoia, aggression, hallucinations, and mood disturbances.
