Two women arrested at JKIA for alleged gold smuggling attempt

Two women were arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on September 4, 2026, following an alleged attempt to smuggle approximately 658 grams of gold to Dubai. The suspects, identified as Mahamed Shukri Abdullahi and Sabriye Farhiyo Hussein, were intercepted by a multi-agency security team while preparing to board an Emirates flight.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the gold was concealed in unconventional ways. Officers reportedly found a 541-gram gold bar wrapped with a hairband and tucked beneath Abdullahi’s hijab and hair. A second suspect, Hussein, was found with a gold pellet weighing 116.79 grams concealed inside her bra.

The suspects are currently in custody undergoing processing pending arraignment. Authorities are investigating the origin of the gold and whether the individuals are part of a larger mineral smuggling network. This incident follows previous major seizures at JKIA, including a July 2026 interception of gold bars valued at approximately KSh 1 billion.