NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 25 – The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has intercepted a consignment containing narcotics worth Sh24.45 million at Eldoret International Airport after they were concealed as cosmetic products.

The consignment, which was being shipped from Dubai to Mombasa, contained 141 items packed in different forms, including soap-like blocks, gel-filled containers and powders.

KRA said the consignment was flagged during X-ray screening after the images did not correspond with the declared contents.

A physical inspection found a mixture of items concealed among products declared as consumer goods.

Samples were taken to the Government Chemist Laboratory in Kisumu for analysis, with two batches testing positive for controlled substances.

Thirteen blue, soap-like blocks weighing 1,381.01 grammes tested positive for methamphetamine and had an estimated street value of Sh11.05 million.

Another 14 maroon gel containers weighing 4,802.86 grammes tested positive for amphetamine and were valued at Sh14.41 million.

KRA said the two batches had a combined estimated street value of Sh25.45 million.

Laboratory tests on the remaining packages found that most did not contain narcotic or psychotropic substances. They included 24 containers of white powder, 24 containers of blue powder, 28 grey flaky fragments, 24 light-green powder-filled envelopes and 14 brown gel containers.

The consignment has since been handed over to the Anti-Narcotics Unit of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) at Eldoret International Airport for further investigation.

KRA said the samples would also remain available for forensic analysis as investigations continue.