New Insights from detectives close to the 20 kilogram cocaine seizure in London can now reveal insightful details on the case, a stroke of novel ideas that security agencies continue to use to identify and neutralize evasive drug trafficking enterprises.
The enterprise operates locally and internationally by leveraging multinational security cooperation with our strategic partners.
Jesse Bryan Da Mata Dos Santos, a British National, who was arrested on May 14, 2025 at Heathrow Airport, London with 20 kilograms of cocaine valued at about Sh100 million, was under active investigation by the Kenyan government.
The investigation comprised of a multiagency collaboration between local security authorities and international Law enforcement agencies, sources said.
Kenya was informed of the arrest and seizure of the drugs.
The suspect is in custody in London waiting for start of his trial in December.
The source of the cocaine is yet to be revealed.
Dos Santos first came into the country in late 2024, only armed with a bag pack and posed as a tourist quenching to explore Kenyan beautiful sceneries.
He pitched tent at a local hotel in Mlolongo area within Machakos County.
During his stay he frequented JKIA cargo section and patronized clubs near the airport.
He would later depart Kenya for United Kingdom, without saying goodbye to his female revelers.
He came back in early May 2025, this time with local knowledge and memories of Kenya.
He changed locations and opted to explore Kilimani areas of Nairobi.
In Kilimani he interacted with Nigerians hopping from one Airbnb to another, partying.
Unknown to him, Kenya’s security agencies were monitoring him.
At one point, an undercover female security officer seduced him posing as a call girl and gathered critical information surrounding his activities that would later provide actionable information.
All this time, security officials were fully aware of Dos Santos’ movements when he transited through JKIA, officials said.
They had tracked his involvement with an international syndicate and his travel itinerary was already under surveillance. While evidence existed to implicate him locally, the decision was made to allow him proceed with his journey to enable UK authorities identify the syndicate players in their country and take action accordingly.
Dos Santos had a history of evading law enforcement and using multiple passports.
Holding him in Nairobi risked an early alert to his network and possible interference through corrupt channels.
By letting him travel, security ensured that he would walk directly into the hands of UK authorities where extradition, conviction and longer sentencing were more certain as compared to Kenya where the Judiciary unnecessarily drags its feet in concluding cases and are likely to bungle a case by being compromised, an official aware of the plan revealed.
His activities in the country revealed a syndicate operating in the country with international links, investigators said.
The network has been mapped out and the source of the drugs established.
Sleuths are pursuing other members of the network.
Some of the notable cases which should serve as a wakeup call for Kenya’s Judiciary on proceedings on narcotics case include that of a Nigerian national Augustine Obinwanne Igwilo arrested in 2017 in Donholm Estate Nairobi while in possession of 40 kilograms of heroin.
He was sentenced in 2021 four years later, while his appeal took another three years and was concluded in 2024.
Take Salim Nassoro a Tanzanian national arrested in September 2016 alongside a Kenyan national while in possession of five kilograms of heroin, against good practice to deny a foreigner bond he was granted one and fled to Tanzania never to be seen again.
Other partners in crime include Mohamed Saleem a Pakistani national and Mohamed Ashraf Changu- Indian national arrested in June 2023 within Ngara estate Nairobi while in possession of 30 kilograms of cocaine valued at Sh120 million, 1.25 tons of ketamine (synthetic drug) valued at Sh375,000,000 and sodium hydrogen carbonate a precursor chemical valued at Sh500,000.
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