In a significant drug bust, a 58-year-old Kenyan man was apprehended in São Paulo, Brazil, alongside two South African women, identified as Ms. Mpembe Nopmfundo and another unnamed individual. The trio was caught with 8 kilograms of narcotics suspected to be cocaine, raising alarms about a larger international trafficking operation.
The arrests were made after Brazilian authorities, specifically the Divisão de Repressão a Entorpecentes (DRE), monitored the women’s movements. Reports indicate that the two South Africans had made several trips from Johannesburg, South Africa, to Brazil, transiting through Angola. Their activities had drawn the attention of law enforcement agencies, and they were reportedly on Interpol’s radar.
At the time of their arrest, the women were found in possession of flight tickets to Uganda via Ethiopia, which further suggested their involvement in a broader drug trafficking network. However, the mastermind behind this operation—the 58-year-old Kenyan man—was tipped off about the impending ambush and managed to evade capture.
Authorities are now conducting extensive investigations to apprehend the fugitive drug lord. In parallel, the Brazilian police have initiated inquiries into a Kenyan individual named Jairus Martin Amoth, who was reportedly set to receive the narcotics shipment. Amoth is also being sought by Interpol and the Anti-Narcotics Units in both Kenya and Uganda.
The DRE is coordinating with international law enforcement agencies to track down both the escaped suspect and Amoth, emphasizing the ongoing collaboration in the fight against drug trafficking across borders.
As investigations continue, officials are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities that may be linked to drug trafficking operations. This incident highlights the persistent challenges posed by organized crime and the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat it on a global scale.
Authorities have not yet disclosed further details about the operation or the suspects’ potential links to larger trafficking networks, but updates are expected as the investigation progresses.
The following authorities took part in this investigation:
- Brazil: Federal Police (Policia Federal)
- Ethiopia : Ethiopian Federal Police Commission.
- Uganda: Narcotics and Anti-Drug Unit (NADU).
- Kenya: Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU)
- South Africa: Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU)
Tags
Crime areas:
Drug Trafficking
Services:
- Operational coordination
- Operational support
- Information exchange
Document type:
Press Release/News
Article type:
Press Release
Participating Countries:
- Brazil
- South Africa
- Ethiopia
- Uganda
- Kenya