Police officers from Baharini Police Station, Turbo Sub- County, Uasin Gishu County have intercepted 190 kilograms of bhang with an estimated street value of Sh9.5 million, suspected to have been ferried from Busia.
Confirming the incident, Wednesday, Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi, said the consignment had been concealed in a parcel delivery lorry. The traffickers sprayed the bhang with chemicals to mask its smell before covering it with legitimate parcels to avoid detection.
“The consignment was destined for Mombasa after passing through Eldoret and Nairobi. This new tactic of hiding drugs among parcels makes it difficult to detect, but with timely information from members of the public, we were able to stop it,” Mwanthi said.
He commended residents for their continued cooperation, noting that without the tip-off, the drugs would have reached schools, training institutions, and communities in Mombasa.
Mwanthi revealed that earlier this month, police had seized another 555 kilograms of bhang worth Sh26 million.
“In less than a month, we have intercepted drugs valued at more than Sh35 million,” he said.
The Commander explained that traffickers often repackage consignments in areas such as Busia County, particularly Malaba, before transporting them, and urged residents to remain vigilant and continue sharing information with security agencies.
Truck owners and drivers were cautioned against colluding with traffickers, with Mwanthi encouraging transport operators to conduct lifestyle audits of their drivers and report any suspicious activities, warning that trucks used in drug trafficking risk being impounded and subjected to court processes.
The driver arrested in connection with the latest seizure is expected to be arraigned in court today.
Mwanthi noted that cannabis remains the most trafficked drug in the region, with most consignments destined for Mombasa.
He added that police in Uasin Gishu are working closely with their counterparts at the Coast to dismantle the networks.
The Commander appealed to the public to continue using hotlines 999 and 112, as well as available DCI contacts, to report any suspicious activity that could help combat the drug trade.
By Fredrick Maritim and Ekuwam Sylvester
