Young woman’s international drug run ends in a toilet stall — JKIA detectives foil shocking smuggling attempt
NAIROBI | June 15, 2025 — A daring drug smuggling operation was brought to a dramatic end at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) when a 26-year-old woman was arrested attempting to board an international flight with cocaine pellets hidden inside her body.
Wendy Mbeke Muli was intercepted on the morning of June 13, just minutes before boarding. According to authorities, her uneasy demeanor during routine screening raised suspicion among experienced anti-narcotics officers.
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A full body scan soon revealed irregularities in her digestive tract, prompting her immediate isolation and transfer to a medical facility for observation.
“She exhibited signs of nervousness that experienced officers know all too well,” said JKIA Anti-Narcotics Unit Commander Paul Mugambi. “She underestimated our screening capabilities and overestimated her luck.”
Later that day, Muli requested to use the washrooms, where she excreted two pellets. By June 14, the total number of excreted pellets had risen to eight. The pellets were found to contain cocaine weighing approximately 626.65 grams.
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Medical officers who monitored her said she was extremely fortunate to survive the ordeal. “Had one of the pellets burst, she wouldn’t have made it to the boarding gate,” warned Dr. Joan Mwikali, a government medical officer attached to the DCI Narcotics Unit.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) believes Muli may be a courier for a larger transnational drug syndicate.
“This is not an isolated case. She’s likely a link in a bigger network,” said a senior DCI official who requested anonymity due to the ongoing nature of the investigations.
Muli is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, June 16, 2025. She faces charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act, which carries a possible sentence of life imprisonment or a fine of up to Ksh 30 million, or both.
“This arrest is a clear warning to anyone thinking they can use Kenya as a drug transit corridor,” said DCI Director Mohamed Amin. “We are watching, and we will act decisively.”
Authorities say the bust comes amid heightened surveillance at major airports following recent intelligence reports suggesting a renewed effort by international traffickers to use human couriers to bypass detection.
The case has reignited public debate on the exploitation of young women by drug syndicates and the urgent need for more regional cooperation in combating narcotics trafficking.
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