Two Kenya Airways Staff Arrested For Suspected Drug Trafficking

Two Kenya Airways staff have been arrested in a sting operation at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for suspected drug trafficking.

A multi-agency police team on Friday night carried out the operation on the suspected drug trafficking ring and intercepted four kilograms of narcotics concealed as Kenyan Coffee.

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The drugs were found hidden within the crew restroom of a Kenya Airways plane (Flight KQ 870) destined for Hong-Kong, China.

The police arrested two suspects; Daniel Koech and Paul Omondi, both Kenya Airways in-flight crew members.

According to the police, their operation was triggered by a tip-off from friendly foreign security agencies who had observed an influx of narcotics emanating from Kenyan flights.

It is alleged that the two Kenya Airways staff have been working in a drug trafficking ring with former colleagues of the airline to secretly traffic drugs to China, Netherlands, and India.

Kenyan security agencies following investigations have now unraveled a cartel comprising of airport staff and in-flight attendants.

It is said that the cartel has been receiving narcotic drugs from a yet-to-be-identified person and sneaking it into flights.

Sources close to the police also revealed the Kenyan-based cartel could have close links to a Nigerian drug trafficking syndicate.

An initial analysis of the syndicate’s activities indicates the group has been moving close to 50kgs of narcotics ranging from cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine on a monthly basis.

The crackdown is aimed at sending a strong message to other criminals on the heightened vigilance at JKIA.

It also reiterates the commitment by security agencies to rid the region’s biggest aviation hub from organized crimes such as drugs, human and wildlife trafficking.

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The two arrested Kenya Airways staff are expected to appear in court today after tests on the narcotics by an officer from the Government Chemist.

Another team of detectives is currently carrying out searches at the suspects’ residences in Nairobi.