Addis Ababa, March 19, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s intelligence agency has apprehended a Ugandan national, Stella Mukisa, along with other individuals involved in drug smuggling at Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport.
According to a press statement issued today, Mukisa was attempting to transport 500 grams of cocaine. The illicit substance was intercepted during a high-vigilance inspection conducted by aviation security experts in coordination with partner agencies.
The suspect was in transit from Lilongwe, Malawi, to Manila, Philippines, when the operation took place. Utilizing advanced detection technology, security personnel successfully intercepted the drugs, leading to Mukisa’s immediate custody. The Ethiopian Federal Police Commission’s Narcotics Control and Investigation Department has since taken over the case for further investigation.
In related operations over consecutive days, aviation security experts intercepted 86 kilograms of dried Khat on a flight from London to Kenya via Addis Ababa, and an additional 17.5 kilograms of Khat on a flight originating from Milan, Italy, bound for Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
The statement also recalled the seizure of more than 4 kilograms of cocaine earlier this week at the same airport. It emphasized that, as Ethiopia strengthens its role as a key global transit hub—fueled in part by shifting travel patterns due to regional security developments in the Middle East—the intelligence agency remains on high alert.
Authorities continue to maintain rigorous surveillance to detect and intercept individuals attempting to exploit the country’s connectivity by blending with legitimate travelers.
The successful interdictions are credited to comprehensive reforms within the Aviation Security Main Directorate, which integrated cutting-edge technology, enhanced human resource capabilities, and established transparent operational protocols.
The intelligence agency reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining these robust enforcement measures, ensuring that Bole International Airport remains a hostile environment for international trafficking and illegal transit activities.