Five suspects arrested with bhang worth Sh25m in Samburu

Police officers last week arrested five drug traffickers in the Sabache area along the Moyale-Isiolo highway, Samburu county.

A team of a special multi-agency team were manning a vehicle checkpoint they had mounted on the highway when they nabbed the suspects.

This happened after they stopped a land cruiser vehicle whose driver was acting suspiciously.

"Upon a detailed check of the vehicle conducted by a narcotic sniffer dog from the K-9 Eastern command, 41 stones of marijuana locally known as shashamane that was tightly wrapped in a khaki paper and sealed with heavy layers of tape were recovered."

The suspects had stashed stones in a concealed compartment under the rear seats of the vehicle.

The hemp weighing 73.6Kgs had a street value of Sh2,576,000.

DCI said their intelligence leads indicate that the traffickers procure the drug from associates in a neighbouring country.

Security has since been heightened along the busy highway.

The police established that proceeds from the sale of the drugs were being used to fund criminal activities.

"Kenyans are reminded that marijuana is a prohibited drug and being found in possession, trafficking or growing the plant attracts heavy penalties of up to 20 years behind bars," DCI warned.