How DCI Tracked and Arrested Thai Drug Trafficker in Nairobi Hotel After JKIA Escape Attempt

Detectives used forensic leads to track down suspect who abandoned 41.7kg of cannabis at airport

NAIROBI – A 57-year-old drug trafficker who attempted a daring escape at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport was arrested at a Nairobi hotel following a swift police operation that exposed a sophisticated smuggling attempt.

Wong Hiu Fung, who had arrived from Bangkok, Thailand, successfully cleared immigration controls and collected his luggage before his carefully planned scheme unraveled at the customs screening zone. As officers began inspecting his two large suitcases, Wong feigned receiving a phone call and disappeared, abandoning his bags in a desperate bid for freedom.

The gamble proved costly.

Anti-Narcotics Unit detectives discovered 41 sachets of cannabis sativa weighing 41.7 kilograms expertly concealed within the abandoned luggage – a haul that would have fetched millions on Nairobi’s illegal drug market.

Wong’s escape lasted only hours.

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations launched an immediate manhunt, utilizing forensic leads to track the suspect’s movements across the capital.

The investigation led them to a hotel in South C, where Wong was arrested without incident.

“His freedom came to an abrupt end,” stated DCI officials, who described the operation as a textbook example of inter-agency coordination between airport security, customs officials, and criminal investigators.

The suspect was escorted back to JKIA Police Station, where he remains in custody awaiting court proceedings.

The case highlights Kenya’s position as a transit point for international drug trafficking networks, with JKIA serving as a key gateway that authorities continue to monitor closely.

Wong’s arrest underscores the effectiveness of Kenya’s anti-narcotics operations and the futility of attempting to outsmart sophisticated detection systems at the country’s premier international airport.

The suspect is expected to face charges related to drug trafficking when he appears in court.