Woman arrested with 5.3Kg heroin

A Kenyan woman has been arrested with 5.3kg of heroin valued at Sh14 million at the Moi International Airport Mombasa during a joint operation conducted by the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

The operation, code-named Operation Simba, and aimed at boosting the ability of front line officers at air, land and sea border crossings to detect potential terrorists or criminals also led to the recovery of 25kg of ammonium nitrate and other materials used by terrorist to manufacture Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

The explosives were seized by Ugandan authorities at the Mutukula border point.

The Kenyan woman had travelled to Kenya via an alleged drug trafficking route from Southern Africa to East Africa.

Seven individuals wanted internationally under Interpol Red Notices for crimes including fraud, murder, drug trafficking, armed robbery and financial crimes were detected, triggering investigations in several countries.

At least 4.6 million checks were carried out at the border crossings, leading to the identification of suspects wanted for terrorism and other serious crimes.

The checks also led to the detection of an individual wanted for alleged links to terrorism, as well as of another individual sought by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

Gregory Hinds, the Interpol’s Counter-terrorism director said the operation demonstrated the importance for countries to use Interpol wide range of criminal databases in strategic border crossings.

“Through its policing tools and services, Interpol is determined to help countries in the regions such as East Africa address their specific security threats and help build a safer environment,” Hinds said.

At least 700 travel documents were also recovered. The documents are key assets for terrorist mobility, particularly for foreign terrorist fighters returning from conflict zones.

With access to the agency’s databases and secure global police communications system (I-24/7) in key strategic locations, frontline officers in the three countries had access to the intelligence required to stop suspected criminals.

“It is with the support of Interpol that we are able to share intelligence information which leads to strategic outcomes, including relevant arrests and seizures,” said Agnes Kiprotich, Deputy Head of the Interpol National Central Bureau in Nairobi.

The operation involved police, customs, border forces and counter-terrorism experts as well as the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO) Counter-Terrorism Centre of Excellence based in Nairobi.

The agency said the operation demonstrated effective police – customs cooperation and was a good example of Interpol – World Customs Organization (WCO) partnership. In parallel, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT-UNCCT) provided expertise in the areas of its competence and co-organized regional events tied to the initiative.