Customs officers at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) have intercepted 52 refurbished mobile phones and three drones in what the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) says was an attempt to sneak the goods past Customs with the help of an airport worker.

In a media brief released on Saturday, October 17, 2026, KRA said its officers flagged two black backpacks being carried by an airport cleaner as she walked out of the terminal during passenger clearance, Kenyans.co.ke and Citizen Digital reported.

Attempted escape

When the cleaner noticed the officers, she tried to run but was stopped and taken for questioning. She told the officers that a female passenger had given her the bags and asked her to carry them through the customs area on her behalf.

The backpacks were then run through a computed tomography (CT) baggage scanner, which revealed that they were packed with electronic devices. Officers traced the passenger, who had arrived aboard an international flight. She admitted handing the bags to the cleaner inside the airport washrooms. Her travel records showed she was a frequent traveller, according to KRA.

What was found

A physical search carried out in the presence of both women turned up the 52 refurbished phones and three drones, two DJI Mini 3 Pro units and one DJI Air model, along with their remote controllers, batteries and accessories including chargers, travel adapters and USB cables.

All the items have been moved to the customs warehouse pending further action, KRA said. The authority did not name the two women or disclose the value of the goods, and it was not immediately clear whether either of them had been charged.

Warning on drone imports

KRA used the incident to remind travellers that drones are restricted imports in Kenya. Anyone bringing a drone into the country must first obtain authorisation from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and comply with all other import requirements, the taxman said.

Undeclared electronics such as phones attract import duty and other taxes, and goods brought in without declaration can be seized and forfeited under the East African Community Customs Management Act.

Second major phone seizure this month

The interception is the latest in a string of seizures at JKIA as KRA steps up enforcement at the country's main international gateway. On October 1, customs officers intercepted 40 undeclared iPhones worth about Sh8.2 million from a male passenger arriving from Dubai. The phones had been hidden among other items in three small suitcases and a backpack, and the passenger's records showed he had made about seven trips between Kenya and Dubai in September alone.

The case also raises questions about insider involvement at the airport. The use of a cleaner to move goods out of the terminal suggests smugglers are trying to exploit airport workers who can move through areas that passengers cannot, a risk KRA and airport security agencies will be under pressure to address.

KRA has been tightening controls across its customs operations. Customs revenue hit Sh90 billion in September, beating the authority's target, as it moves to seal leakages through stricter checks at ports of entry.

Photos: The Eastleigh Voice (JKIA terminal); KRA via Citizen Digital; KRA via The Standard.