A US state government contractor admitted in court that he was discovered with four cocaine pellets in his stomach while attempting to flee Kenya.
Jarod Tyler Roberts, who lives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, told the court that he bought the narcotics for personal use while on vacation in Kenya, but chose to carry the remaining three pellets back to Saudi Arabia.
Roberts arrived in Kenya on February 13 for a short visit and was scheduled to depart on February 16.
However, after discovering that he had remaining cocaine pellets, he planned to smuggle them by ingesting them at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
He had wrapped the pellets in double-knotted latex gloves, assuming they would withstand stomach acid.
While at the airport’s central screening area, Roberts tried to hide his actions by pretending to chew something, which drew attention of security agents.
In court, Roberts expressed sincere regret for breaking Kenyan laws and asked compassion, claiming that an imprisonment sentence would jeopardize his job.
His parents have pleaded on his behalf, praising him as clever but admitting he made a bad decision.
Roberts, represented by lawyer Danstan Omari, has entered into a plea bargain with the state, with details still being finalized.
The case is set for mention next Wednesday.
