A US state government contractor who has admitted to being found with four cocaine pellets in his stomach was in Kenya for a holiday and had bought the drugs for leisure. However, at the end of his stay, he decided to take the remaining three pellets back to Saudi Arabia, where he is stationed.
According to a social report filed in court, Jarod Tyler Roberts, who was charged with drug trafficking, made the decision after realizing he had extra pellets. Since he had procured them at a cheap price, he swallowed them at JKIA but failed to board his flight after experiencing a reaction.
Roberts, who stays in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, says he has visited Kenya more than 10 times and currently holds a five-year Kenyan visa, which he obtained in 2024.
“He stated that he loves visiting Kenya to enjoy activities unavailable in Saudi Arabia, such as gambling and alcohol consumption. He enjoys playing blackjack and other casino games and appreciates Nairobi’s social life, adding that winning money is an added benefit. He has also visited Kakamega, the hometown of his Luhya friend, Benjamin Platt,” the report reads in part.
Roberts arrived in Kenya on February 13 for a social visit and was scheduled to leave on the 16th. However, his trip back took a turn for the worse due to his hasty and reckless decision to carry the remaining cocaine to Saudi Arabia, despite the country’s strict drug laws.
He had individually wrapped the four cocaine pellets in pieces of latex gloves tied with double knots, believing that stomach acid would not dissolve them. He then checked in at JKIA’s departure area for his flight to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. To evade detection at screening points, he placed the wrapped pellets in his mouth. While at the Central Screening Point, he pretended to be chewing something, which caught the attention of security officers present,” reads the report.
The report further states that at this point, Roberts panicked and immediately swallowed the four wrapped cocaine pellets. He was flagged and questioned about what he was chewing, but he evasively responded that he always chews like that.
Nothing was recovered from him, so he was allowed to proceed to the Business Class Lounge. There, he unsuccessfully attempted to induce vomiting. Realizing the danger to his health, he opted to miss his flight and seek medical assistance to remove the drugs from his system.
He went to a small local medical facility, but they were unable to treat him. He then called his Luhya friend in Kenya, who came to his aid and took him to M.P. Shah Hospital.
While there, he explained to the doctor the truth about what he had swallowed. He was admitted, and 20 minutes later, a contingent of approximately 20 police officers arrived and placed him under observation.
Three cocaine pellets were recovered from his stomach through endoscopy, while the fourth pellet was expelled naturally.
Roberts says he is deeply sorry and highly regrets violating Kenya’s hospitality and its laws.
He has apologized to the court for his irrational judgment in procuring narcotics and has also expressed regret for wasting the court’s time.
He has asked the court to grant him a lenient sentence, preferably a fine, arguing that imprisonment could severely impact his career. He further apologized to the court for his actions.
According to the report, his parents, especially his father, have vouched for him, telling the court that their son is an intelligent individual who made a foolish mistake. They also insisted that he does not abuse drugs.
Roberts, who is represented by Lawyer Danstan Omari, has entered into a plea bargain with the state, and the parties are in the process of finalizing the agreement.
The case will be mentioned on Wednesday next week.
