Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has foiled a suspected drug trafficking attempt at Entebbe International Airport after customs officers detected narcotics concealed in a passenger’s luggage during routine border surveillance.
Identified as Paul Kiwanuka, according to his passport, the suspect was intercepted during standard control procedures applied to an inbound passenger who arrived aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
According to URA, the traveller’s luggage was subjected to non-intrusive inspection using advanced X-ray scanning technology.
During the screening process, customs officers noticed unusual imaging patterns that triggered suspicion.
“Officers discovered abnormal image characteristics in one of the packages, with images revealing highly compressed pellet-like items consistently distributed throughout the package,” URA said.
The Authority explained that the systematic arrangement of the items prompted further scrutiny, leading officers to conduct a physical inspection.
“A physical verification revealed suspected heroin pellets concealed in the package,” URA said in a statement.
Following the discovery, URA customs officers handed over both the suspect and the suspected narcotic exhibits to the Aviation Police for further investigation and case management, in line with established inter-agency procedures.
URA said samples of the substance were also subjected to forensic analysis to establish the exact weight and chemical composition of the suspected narcotics.
The interception comes amid growing concern over the use of Entebbe International Airport as a transit point by international drug trafficking networks.
Multiple reports have previously indicated that traffickers exploit the airport’s strategic location to move illicit drugs to various destinations across the globe.
URA, however, said the latest interception demonstrates strengthened surveillance and enforcement efforts at Uganda’s main international gateway.
“URA remains dedicated to combating the trafficking of harmful imports, facilitating legitimate trade, strengthening border security, and safeguarding national and public safety,” the Authority said.
Investigations into the suspected trafficking attempt are ongoing, with Aviation Police expected to determine the suspect’s network and intended destination of the drugs.
