Kenya Airways (KQ) confirms that on Friday, April 19th, 2024, two of our employees at our airport office in Kinshasa were arrested and continue to be detained by the Military Intelligence Unit known as Detection Militaire des Activities Anti Patrie (DEMIAP). During their arrest, their phones were seized, and all access to them has been denied. On April 23rd, 2024, the Kenyan embassy officials and a few KQ staff were allowed to visit them but only for a few minutes. The reason for their arrest was alleged to be missing custom documentation on valuable cargo that was to be transported on a KQ flight on April 12th, 2024. However, we wish to state that the said cargo was not uplifted or accepted by KQ due to incomplete documentation.
The facts on the incident are as follows:
-
The cargo was not on the air side for transportation and, therefore, not in the possession of KQ as the logistic handler was still completing documentation before handing it over to KQ.
-
 This cargo was still in the baggage section undergoing clearance when the security team arrived and alleged that KQ was transporting cargo without customs clearance.
-
 All efforts to explain to the military officers that KQ had not accepted the cargo because of incomplete documentation proved futile.
-
The military officers took the two employees to the military side of the air wing (DEMIAP)to record statements.
-
 They were held incommunicado until 23RD April, when the Embassy officials and KQ team were allowed to visit them.
