A woman has been arrested in Nairobi as she allegedly tried to smuggle narcotics to India.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the suspect was attempting to board a plane at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Goa, India, when she was arrested, before 1.3 kilogrammes of cocaine were allegedly recovered from her.
A DCI statement said that sleuths arrested the 25-year-old suspect and recovered the drugs she had reportedly wrapped in yellow sellotape and concealed inside her bag.
“The suspect learned the hard way that smuggling drugs is a fast track to jail time, not a holiday in the sun. The aspiring drug mule was nabbed by eagle-eyed Anti-Narcotics Unit detectives at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as she attempted to board a flight to Goa, India,” DCI stated.
“Her travel plans hit turbulence when sharp-sighted detectives flagged her down for a routine check. A quick inspection of her luggage led to the discovery of two suspicious smaller bags tucked inside,” they further added.
“She is currently cooling her heels at the JKIA Police Station, undergoing processing, awaiting her court appearance. Meanwhile, the seized narcotics are being detained as exhibits,” they noted.
Drug smuggling into India is treated as a very serious criminal offence, with harsh penalties, especially under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), 1985. The law applies equally to foreigners and Indian citizens, with no leniency based on nationality.
It attracts an imprisonment of a minimum of ten years, which can go up to 20 years. Also, a fine of up to Sh306,000 or more applies if the court deems it appropriate.
Further convicted persons are not liable for bail and it can only be granted under rare, exceptional circumstances. One is also not entitled to parole or early release. Parole is rarely granted for drug-related offenses.
After serving the sentence, the person may be deported and permanently banned from re-entering India. During imprisonment, embassies may offer consular access but cannot reduce or influence sentencing.
This comes after the recent controversy surrounding Margaret Nduta, a Kenyan currently being held in Vietnam, and who was set to be executed after she was found guilty of smuggling heroin.
