How repeat Dubai trips exposed high-end phones smuggling route at JKIA

Passengers prepare their luggage for scanning at JKIA in Nairobi on February 17, 2026. 

Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group

Suspicious repeat short trips by a passenger between Nairobi and Dubai have led to the discovery of a scheme some shrewd traders use to ship in undeclared high-value smartphones through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport(JKIA).

The Kenya Revenue Authority(KRA) said the travel pattern by a single passenger prompted its customs officers to scrutinise the history of his trips and luggage, resulting in an interception of 40 undeclared iPhones valued Sh8.2 million at JKIA.

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