A U.S. state government contractor has admitted in court to being found with four cocaine pellets in his stomach while attempting to leave Kenya.
Jarod Tyler Roberts told the court that he had purchased the drugs for personal use while on holiday in Kenya but decided to take the remaining three pellets back to Saudi Arabia before his departure.
In a report filed in court, Roberts, who has visited Kenya more than ten times and holds a five-year visa issued in 2024, frequently travels to the country for leisure.
A U.S. state government contractor has admitted in court to being found with four cocaine pellets. Photo: Courtesy.
Roberts arrived in Kenya on February 13 for a short visit and was set to depart on February 16.
However, after realizing he had leftover cocaine pellets, he decided to smuggle them by swallowing them at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
While at the airport’s central screening area, Roberts attempted to disguise his actions by pretending to chew something, which drew the attention of security officers.
Panicking, he swallowed the pellets entirely and since nothing was recovered during a search, he was allowed to proceed to the Business Class Lounge.
He then tried to induce vomiting but failed and opted to miss his flight and sought medical assistance.
After being Unable to get help at a small medical facility, Roberts called his Kenyan friend, who took him to M.P. Shah Hospital.
He informed the doctors about the swallowed drugs and was admitted.
The DCIs were then tipped by the doctor, arrived at the facility and placed him under observation.
Doctors managed to retrieve three of the pellets through an endoscopy procedure, while the fourth was later expelled naturally.
