JKIA Cleaner Arrested Over 52 Phones and Three Drones, Report Says
NAIROBI, October 18, 2026 — Kenya Revenue Authority customs officers have intercepted 52 refurbished mobile phones and three drones at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after identifying two backpacks carried by an airport cleaner, according to the authority’s reported statement.
KRA said the cleaner was stopped while exiting an arrivals area and that screening revealed electronic equipment. The employee reportedly told officers that an arriving passenger had passed her the bags. The passenger was subsequently traced, and the contents were inspected with both individuals present.
What officers say they found
In addition to the phones, KRA reported finding drones, batteries, controllers and accessories. The authority said the items were secured in a customs warehouse pending further action. These are accounts of an interception and investigation, not evidence of a criminal conviction against either individual.
Why drone imports receive attention
Bringing a drone into Kenya can involve aviation authorisations separate from ordinary customs procedures. Travellers should consult the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and KRA before travelling with equipment that may be restricted. Customs rules can also apply to multiple imported phones regardless of whether they are new or refurbished.
What travellers can learn
Passengers should keep control of their own luggage, declare goods where the law requires and seek official clarification about regulated items before leaving the airport. Informal arrangements to carry other people’s bags can create both security and legal risks. The underlying KRA account was reported on October 17. No licensed photograph of this interception has been added.
Editor’s context: Reporting distinction: An arrest or seizure is not a criminal conviction. The number and type of items reported as seized should be attributed to the investigating authorities; whether any offence was committed is for the legal process to determine.
