Wong Hiu Fung, who now sits in police custody after a botched attempt to flee authorities. Photo DCI 
By Andrew Mbuva
What started as a seemingly smooth arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) turned into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse for a 57-year-old drug trafficker, Wong Hiu Fung, who now sits in police custody after a botched attempt to flee authorities.
Wong had just landed in Nairobi from Bangkok, Thailand, when he was flagged by customs officers at JKIA. According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the suspect proceeded to the baggage hall where he picked up two large suitcases and approached the customs screening area.
But as soon as officers began inspecting his luggage, he pulled a sly move — feigning a phone call and vanishing from the terminal, leaving his suspicious baggage behind.
The drama unfolded when Anti-Narcotics Unit officers opened the abandoned suitcases and discovered 41 sachets of cannabis sativa, expertly wrapped and concealed within the luggage. The drugs weighed a staggering 41.7 kilograms.
"The packaging was sophisticated, clearly designed to avoid detection," said a senior Anti-Narcotics detective who spoke on condition of anonymity. “But our officers are well-trained to detect even the most cleverly disguised contraband.”
Despite his calculated escape, Wong’s freedom was short-lived. Detectives quickly activated forensic tracing systems and launched a manhunt that led them to a hotel in Nairobi’s South C estate.
“It was only a matter of time. He underestimated the efficiency of our officers,” said a DCI source involved in the operation.
Wong was arrested without incident and escorted back to JKIA Police Station, where he is being held as investigations continue. He is expected to be arraigned in court to face charges related to drug trafficking.
Authorities hailed the swift operation as a testament to the vigilance and coordination between airport security and anti-narcotics units.
“This arrest sends a strong message that Kenya will not be used as a transit point for narcotics,” the DCI said in a statement.
Investigations are ongoing to establish whether Wong was acting alone or is part of a larger international drug trafficking syndicate.
