NAIROBI, Kenya — A Ugandan national, Hellen Ikareut, was charged at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) court on Monday, August 11, 2025, with trafficking bhang valued at Ksh 125,590.20. The drugs, weighing 4186.34 grams, were allegedly seized at the airport in 2023.
According to Prosecuting Counsel John Tago, the accused is alleged to have committed the offense on May 18, 2023, at the DHL cargo shed at JKIA.
The narcotic drugs were reportedly concealed within 25 shower curtains inside a carton box shipment.
Ikareut appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Njeri Thuku and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Her journey to court followed her arrest in Uganda on August 5, 2025, after which she was extradited to Kenya by Ugandan authorities at the request of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), which had sought assistance from Interpol.
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During the court session, the DPP opposed Ikareut’s release on bond, citing that she is believed to be a major distributor and part of a drug cartel operating both locally and internationally.
The prosecution argued that her release could jeopardize ongoing investigations aimed at apprehending her accomplices.
The case is scheduled to be mentioned on August 25, 2025, for further directions.
