Larry Madowo, a Kenyan journalist, recently shared his experience of being detained at a US airport due to Royco cubes he was carrying, which were suspected to be drugs.
According to Madowo, he was traveling from Nairobi to Silicon Valley with a layover in Amsterdam and San Francisco. During his stop in San Francisco, he was asked to proceed to a secondary inspection area where his bags were searched.
Madowo explained that the customs officer, a humorless African American gentleman, unpacked his bags without asking for permission and found three one-kilogramme bags of Ujimix and several sachets of Royco cubes.
The officer questioned Madowo about the contents of his bags, suggesting that he could have mailed the items instead of carrying them. Madowo responded by explaining the cultural significance of sharing food with friends abroad.
The officer then conducted a series of tests on the Royco cubes, including testing for heroin, marijuana, and opium. After completing the tests, the officer returned Madowo's belongings, but not before resealing the opened packages with blue tape.
Madowo reflected on his experience, stating that as a young black male traveling internationally, he is often subjected to racial profiling and indignity. However, he noted that the experience was worth it to share Kenyan culture with his friends abroad.
The recovered account cited reporting by The Star.
