Mumbai authorities nab Kenyan woman with 1.7kg of cocaine

A Kenyan woman has been arrested at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for allegedly smuggling 1.7 kilograms of cocaine hidden in her luggage.

The 43-year-old, identified as Emily Kanini Rodha, was intercepted by Mumbai Customs officials upon arrival on Tuesday.

The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) had received intelligence reports that led them to monitor Rodha closely.

According to The Indian Express, officers noticed she appeared nervous, prompting them to inspect her baggage.

“During the examination of her trolley bag, officers noticed an unusual heaviness. Upon further inspection, a synthetic material was found affixed to the bottom. After removing it, we discovered four plastic packets containing a white powdery substance. Field tests confirmed it was cocaine,” a Customs official said.

Rodha was immediately taken into custody after authorities seized the 1,789-gram consignment.

During questioning, she admitted to knowing the bag contained illegal substances.

She also disclosed that she had been recruited by a woman named Millicent in Nairobi, who provided her with the drugs, booked her flight, and arranged her accommodation in Mumbai.

Rodha stated that Millicent handed her the contraband in Nairobi and had also arranged her flights and hotel stay in Mumbai.

"She was promised Sh100,000 for successfully delivering the drugs to a contact in Delhi," the official added.

Investigators believe that the suspect was part of a larger drug smuggling syndicate operating between Africa and India.

Authorities are now working to uncover more details about the network and identify Rodha’s accomplices.

“We suspect this is part of a wider network. Efforts are underway to identify her accomplices,” the official said.

Rodha is currently facing charges under India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and remains in custody as investigations continue.

Her arrest comes at a time when there is growing concern over the number of Kenyan nationals caught in drug trafficking cases abroad.

Recently, another Kenyan woman, Margaret Nduta Macharia, was sentenced to death in Vietnam for smuggling over two kilograms of cocaine.

The Kenyan government has since stepped in to seek a solution for Nduta, who was convicted on March 6 by the People’s Court in Ho Chi Minh City.

She had been arrested in July 2023 while in transit to Laos, though her family only learned about her fate through the internet two days after her sentencing.

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei acknowledged the complexity of Nduta’s case but assured that the government was working towards securing some form of relief for her.

“Nduta’s case is complex and difficult, but we are doing everything within our disposal to secure reprieve for our national,” Sing’Oei said.

Nduta’s mother, Purity Wangari, has pleaded with the authorities to intervene and allow her daughter to serve her sentence in Kenya.

“It was the first time my daughter was travelling overseas searching for greener pastures. I plead with the authorities to help bring her home, even if it means serving her sentence locally,” Wangari said.

She further claimed that her daughter was unaware of the drugs in her possession, alleging that a Kenyan man had given her the bag to deliver to a woman abroad.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has previously warned Kenyans seeking opportunities abroad to be cautious and avoid involvement in illegal activities.

“We must ensure that Kenyans venturing into the diaspora do not fall into the trap of engaging in illegal activities. This is extremely important and must be taken seriously,” Mudavadi said.

Authorities continue to monitor drug smuggling routes, with investigations ongoing to dismantle trafficking networks involving Kenyan nationals.