JKIA police seize five kilos of ketamine headed for Brazil, disguised as tea 

Detectives based at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport seized 4.7 kilos of ketamine drugs that had been disguised as tea and were destined for Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

The cargo valued at about Sh3 million had been sent from Kilimani area in Nairobi and packed in packets of Sasin Gold tea when it was intercepted at the customs verification area.

Officials at the cargo centre said they had flagged the package on December 19, 2025 and on checking its contents, they found it with 15 packets of the same.

Tests turned positive for ketamine.

Police said they are pursuing the sender of the cargo for grilling and further action.

No arrest had been made by Monday December 22, 2025.

Police want to know the source of the drugs.

Ketamine is a powerful dissociative anesthetic with analgesic and hallucinogenic properties, used in human and veterinary medicine, as well as a controlled, illicitly used drug.

The value of a kilogram of ketamine varies significantly depending on the market, purity, and location, ranging from approximately Sh600,00.

Meanwhile, officials at the airport intercepted four boxes that contained dried Muguka that was destined for Hong Kong. Export of the Muguka and Miraa to the country is banned.

The team said the cargo had been disguised as dried Moringa leaves when it was seized at the verification centre.

Two men who had sent the drug were arrested for grilling, police said.

Just like Miraa, Muguka is a stimulant drug, which means it speeds up the messages between the brain and the body

It is banned in many countries including the EU, Canada, Britain and USA.

Equally in Australia, the importation of khat is controlled under the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956. It is illegal to import khat into Australia for personal use. Khat can be imported only for medical or scientific use.

The same scenario applies in most countries in Asia.