The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) intercepted 52 refurbished mobile phones and three drones at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) after Customs officers stopped an airport cleaner carrying two black backpacks as she left the terminal.
In a statement released on Saturday, October 17, 2026, KRA said the incident occurred during the clearance of arriving passengers when officers noticed the cleaner carrying the two bags.
The worker allegedly attempted to flee after noticing the officers but was intercepted for questioning.
“Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has intercepted 52 refurbished assorted mobile phones and three drones at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in an operation that highlights the critical role of baggage-scanning technology in detecting goods suspected of being smuggled into the country,” KRA said.
“The interception occurred during the clearance of arriving passengers at the airport when Customs officers noticed an airport employee, specifically a cleaner, carrying two black backpacks as she exited the terminal.”
During interrogation, the cleaner told Customs officers that a female passenger had handed her the two backpacks and asked her to take them through Customs.
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How KRA Baggage Scanners Exposed the Items
Customs officers screened the backpacks using a computed tomography (CT) baggage scanner, which revealed the presence of mobile phones and drones.
“The officers subsequently subjected the backpacks to screening using a CT baggage scanner, which revealed the presence of drones and assorted mobile phones,” KRA added.
The officers then traced the female passenger, who had arrived in Kenya on an international flight.
The passenger confirmed that she had handed the bags to the cleaner while using the airport restrooms.
A review of her travel documents showed she was a frequent traveller, after which Customs officers physically inspected the bags in the presence of both women.
The inspection confirmed the backpacks contained 52 refurbished mobile phones and three drones, along with controllers, batteries, and other accessories.
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Drones and Phone Accessories Recovered as KRA Issues Warning
The recovered items included two DJI Mini 3 Pro drones, two controllers, and two batteries.
The officers also found one DJI Air 25 drone, together with its controller, battery and accessories.
Other items included mobile phone chargers, travel adapters, USB cables, screen protectors and personal effects.
KRA said it had secured the intercepted goods and deposited them at the Customs warehouse pending further action.
The authority said the interception highlighted the role of baggage-scanning technology in detecting goods suspected of being moved through unauthorised channels.
KRA added that it was strengthening the use of technology and risk-based passenger screening to facilitate legitimate travel and trade while addressing attempts to circumvent Customs controls.
The authority also reminded travellers and importers that drones are subject to import restrictions and require the relevant authorisation from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).
It urged travellers to establish and comply with the applicable regulatory requirements before bringing drones into the country.
The Revenue Authority said it remained committed to protecting government revenue, safeguarding Kenya’s borders and facilitating compliant passenger movement through technology, intelligence and enforcement measures.
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