Police in Mombasa have made a breakthrough in the fight against drug trafficking after intercepting six bags containing 4,500 rolls of bhang with a street value of Sh4.5 million.
County Police Commander Peter Kimani confirmed that the haul was seized around 8 a.m. during an intelligence-led sting operation along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway in the Changamwe area. The consignment originated from a neighbouring country.
“From the intelligence information, they managed to intercept one lorry trailer whose make is FAO, registration number KDH 969C. It was travelling along that road,” said the police boss at the Coast Regional Police Headquarters.
“Once it was intercepted, the Police Officers conducted a thorough search of the vehicle, and therein they managed to recover six bags of cannabis. On further inspection, it was found to contain 4500 rolls of cannabis, whose street value is Sh4.5M,” he added.
The ill-fated vehicle was being driven by one Mark Maseno, who was apprehended. During the interrogation, he informed the police that he had hidden the bhang consignment among bags of potatoes, which he had offloaded along the way.
The Police Commander said the Anti-Narcotics Unit is undertaking the processing of the bhang for the culprit to be arraigned in court.
“This is a big step and a breakthrough in terms of the trafficking of drugs,” he stated, adding that smoking has adverse effects on the users, discouraging the smoking of bhang.
He further asserted that they would scale up the war against drug use in the port city to ensure that they reduce its usage.
“This vehicle is going to be taken to court, and if the procedure goes as it is supposed to, it will be forfeited to the government, and this will serve as a warning to other motor vehicle owners to desist from having their vehicles hired for transportation of drugs,” said Kimani.
By Sadik Hassan
