Kenyan woman arrested in India with Cocaine worth $2.1M

A 43-year-old Kenyan woman is now in police custody in India after trying to smuggle cocaine worth $2.1 million (about Ksh.271.4 million) into the country.

Authorities arrested Emily Kanini Rhoda on Tuesday at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (CSMI) Airport. She had just arrived from Nairobi, with a stopover in Doha.

When customs officers searched her luggage, they found a total of 1,789 grams of cocaine hidden inside.

Suspicious Behavior Led to Her Arrest

Indian customs officials said Rhoda’s nervous behavior made them suspicious. As a result, they decided to take a closer look at her suitcase.

“At first, we saw only clothes and shoes in her trolley bag,” the officials explained. “However, after we removed all the items, we noticed the bag was still unusually heavy.”

After a detailed examination, they discovered that a synthetic material was attached to the bottom of the suitcase. When they removed it, they found four transparent plastic packets glued to the bottom surface.

“All four packets contained a white powdered substance,” customs officials stated. “After testing, we confirmed it was cocaine. In total, we seized 1,789 grams of the illegal drug.”

Rhoda Confessed to Smuggling for Money

During questioning, Rhoda admitted that she knew she was carrying drugs. She revealed that a woman from Nairobi, identified only as Millicent, had offered her Ksh.100,000 ($775) to transport the cocaine to India.

“She was promised Ksh.100,000 in Delhi for delivering the drugs to Millicent’s accomplice,” the officials said. “Since she was struggling financially, she agreed to do it for easy money.”

Rhoda also told authorities that Millicent had booked her flight and arranged her accommodation in Mumbai.

Authorities Suspect a Bigger Drug Network

Investigators believe Rhoda is part of a larger drug trafficking ring. “We are now working to identify her accomplices,” Indian authorities said.

If convicted, Rhoda could face harsh punishment. In India, people caught with small amounts of drugs—less than one kilogram—may receive up to six months in prison or a fine.

However, for larger amounts, which are considered “commercial quantity,” the penalties are much stricter. Offenders can be sentenced to more than 20 years in prison and fined heavily.