NAIROBI, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Kenyan authorities said on Thursday that they have intercepted heroin worth 29,000 U.S. dollars at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) said its enforcement officers who were on a routine check seized 980 grams of heroin from Uganda at the airport on Wednesday night.

"The substance was subjected to scanning and verification at the KRA Customs laboratory, and positively identified as heroin," KRA said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

It said the prohibited substance which was smuggled into the country from Mbarara, Uganda concealed in African crafts (scrolls) was destined for Delta State in Nigeria.

The package has since been handed over to the Anti-Narcotic Police Unit for further investigations.

The latest interception comes days after the KRA intercepted several packages of narcotics concealed as vitamin tablets at JKIA. The narcotics had also been sent as a parcel using an international courier service provider.

"This points to a possible change of tact by drug traffickers who now seem to smuggle prohibited substances in concealments via courier service providers as opposed to making deliveries in person," KRA said.

The revenue body said its efforts in curbing smuggling of narcotics and other prohibited substances were recently boosted following recruitment of additional K9 handlers and acquisition of more K9s at the various ports of entry.

KRA is also in partnership with other key state agencies such as the police in heightening surveillance at the country's territorial borders.

"The Authority remains committed and extra vigilant at all points of entry to ensure that illegal and prohibited substances do not find their way into the country," it said. Enditem

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