By Grace Gilo
In a significant breakthrough in a cross-border drug investigation, Hellen Ikareut, a Ugandan woman alleged to be the mastermind behind a large-scale cannabis trafficking operation, has been extradited to Kenya.
Read more: Ugandan Woman Charged with Drug Trafficking in Kenya After Extradition
Ikareut, who had been on the run for over two years, was apprehended in Uganda and transported to face charges in Kenya.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), her trail began on May 18, 2023, when detectives at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport’s DHL Cargo Section cracked open a suspicious shipment.
“Inside a carton box, hidden within 25 shower curtains, they found 4,186.34 grams of cannabis sativa, a smuggling trick designed to slip past customs undetected,” stated the DCI.
Following this discovery, law enforcement officials traced Ikareut’s location to Uganda. Through collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General, Interpol Kenya, and Ugandan authorities, the process for Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) and extradition was initiated under East African Community agreements.
On August 5, 2025, Ugandan authorities executed an operation that led to Ikareut’s arrest. She was subsequently handed over to Kenyan law enforcement agencies.
“Ikareut was arraigned at the JKIA Law Courts on August 11, 2025, where she faced charges of Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs. Her case will be mentioned on August 25, 2025,” the DCI stated.
This case highlights the crucial role of regional cooperation in combating organised crime.
By pooling intelligence, legal tools, and enforcement resources across borders, East African nations are proving that coordinated action can choke off trafficking networks and bring fugitives to account,” added DCI.