2 arrested as police seize Ksh117M drugs in Mombasa trafficking crackdown
By Kenneth Mwenda, July 21, 2026Police in Mombasa have arrested two persons of interest and recovered narcotics valued at Ksh117 million in a crackdown on drug trafficking in the Coast region.
One of the persons of interest was arrested at Moi International Airport, Mombasa, while preparing to travel to Dubai. Coast Regional Police Commander Ali Nuno said the individual had swallowed 44 pellets containing drugs, which were later recovered at Portreitz Hospital.
The person of interest was taken to the hospital, where medical officers helped recover the pellets as police began investigations into the wider drug trafficking network.
Nuno said investigations had established that the main person of interest, identified as Mohammed, had been receiving drugs from Tanzania before they were distributed through the network.
Police are now pursuing other individuals linked to the suspected drug trafficking operation in the region.
The latest Mombasa drug bust highlights ongoing efforts by security agencies to disrupt narcotics networks operating along the Coast and through key transport points.
Speaking on the arrests on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, Nuno said the network involved both carriers and peddlers who played different roles in transporting and distributing the drugs.
“Carriers are the ones who transport the drugs, and peddlers are the ones who sell them,” Nuno said.
The Coast police boss said security officers had made several drug recoveries in recent months as part of efforts to prevent narcotics from reaching communities.
“In the months of April, May and June, we were able to detect drugs worth Ksh51 million and Ksh51.5 million,” he said.
Nuno said police would continue targeting individuals involved in the illegal trade, warning that drug trafficking was putting young people at risk.
“We are on top of things. There is no secret now. We are going for everybody who is dealing with these drugs. We cannot allow ourselves to lose generations just because somebody wants to make profits out of it,” he said.
Kenya intensifies drug crackdown
The Ksh117 million narcotics seizure comes amid increased security operations against drug trafficking in Kenya. Authorities have stepped up surveillance at airports, ports and other entry points used by traffickers.
In May 2026, security agencies intercepted methamphetamine worth Ksh10.56 million at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). The drugs had been hidden inside handbags in a consignment declared as handmade bags and clothes.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said officers from the Anti-Narcotics Unit detected the suspicious cargo during a verification exercise at the airport’s cargo facilities. A physical inspection later revealed the drugs concealed inside the bags.
Kenya has in recent years recorded major narcotics seizures involving different forms of concealment. In October 2025, the Kenya Navy intercepted a dhow in the Indian Ocean carrying methamphetamine worth about Ksh8.2 billion.
Security agencies have linked some drug trafficking activities to international networks that use Kenya as a transit route because of its strategic location and transport connections.
Police said investigations into the Mombasa drug trafficking case are ongoing, with officers working to identify more persons of interest connected to the network.
The authorities have maintained that intelligence-led operations and cooperation among security agencies remain key in fighting drug trafficking and preventing narcotics from spreading in communities.