A 43-year-old Kenyan woman, Emily Kanini Rodha, has been apprehended in India for allegedly attempting to smuggle cocaine valued at Sh270 million ($2.1 million).
Authorities at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport detained Rodha on April 1 after her suspicious behavior led to a detailed inspection of her luggage. She had traveled from Nairobi via Doha.
Indian customs officials revealed that Rodha’s nervous demeanor during routine checks prompted them to scrutinize her belongings. Initially, her trolley bag appeared to contain only clothing and shoes. However, upon further inspection, the bag was found to be unusually heavy.
Officers uncovered synthetic material affixed to its bottom, which concealed four plastic packets containing a white powdered substance. Subsequent testing confirmed the presence of cocaine, weighing a total of 1,789 grams.
A Nairobi Connection
During interrogation, Rodha allegedly confessed that she was handed the drugs in Nairobi by a woman identified as Millicent. She admitted she had full knowledge of the bag’s contents and had been promised a payment of Sh100,000 ($775) upon successful delivery in India. Investigators believe she was acting as a courier for a larger drug syndicate operating between Africa and India.
“She was to be paid in Delhi upon delivering the contraband to an associate of Millicent. Desperate for money, she accepted the offer,” Indian customs officials stated.
Further inquiries revealed that Millicent had not only provided Rodha with the drugs but had also covered her flight expenses and accommodation in Mumbai. Authorities suspect the involvement of a well-organized drug trafficking network.
Tough Drug Laws in India
Rodha faces charges under India’s stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The penalties for drug-related offenses in India vary, ranging from six months’ imprisonment for minor possession to over 20 years for commercial quantities. Drug trafficking charges are particularly severe, with no provision for suspension or commutation of sentences.
Rodha’s arrest comes just weeks after another Kenyan, Margaret Nduta, was sentenced to death in Vietnam for smuggling 2.3 kilograms of cocaine through Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport. The Kenyan government has since announced efforts to have her sentence reduced to life imprisonment following public outcry.
With the increasing number of Kenyan nationals implicated in international drug smuggling, authorities are intensifying efforts to dismantle trafficking networks. The latest arrest underscores the risks associated with drug peddling, as traffickers face harsh legal consequences in foreign jurisdictions.
As investigations continue, Indian authorities are working to identify and apprehend the broader network involved in this illegal trade, with hopes of curbing the transnational drug menace.
