Lamu cops seize bhang worth Sh200,000, two arrested

The rolls of bhang on display at the Witu police station on Thursday, January 24, 2019. /PRAXIDES CHETI
The rolls of bhang on display at the Witu police station on Thursday, January 24, 2019. /PRAXIDES CHETI

Police officers manning the Lamu-Garsen road on Thursday impounded 401 huge rolls of bhang with a street value of Sh200,600.

Two suspects who were ferrying the bhang on a motorcycle were also arrested.

Confirming the seizure, Lamu Police Commander Muchangi Kioi said the rolls had been hidden inside a basket of sand.

Interestingly, Kioi revealed the two suspects already have a warrant of arrest out for them on similar charges of peddling narcotics.

“We are holding them and will arraign them in court soon. They will also serve their earlier warrant of arrest. This will serve as a lesson to others," Kioi said.

The commander admitted that drug trafficking was still a major headache for police in the region.

He said the peddlers had resorted to extreme and unusual techniques to conceal and distribute the drugs.

Kioi, however, insisted that the war against narcotics remains in full force adding that security officers had intensified crackdowns in all areas in the region.

He revealed that boat operators, drivers and traders were aiding the smuggling and peddling or drugs in Lamu and warned that their days were numbered.

The seizure comes three months after another suspect was arrested at the Mangrove Terminal jetty in Lamu town as he ferried in 214 small rolls of bhang worth Sh40,000.

According to a performance and evaluation report released by the police in Lamu in December last year, over 60 drug smugglers were arrested and charged in 2018.

Police have also identified Langoni, Gadeni, Wiyoni, Kashmir,

Faza, Kizingitini, Myabogi, Tchundwa and Mbwajumwali areas around Lamu as being notorious for drug smuggling.

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