Busia police arrest suspect, seize bhang worth Sh180,000

Police officers in Nambale, Busia County, have arrested a suspect and recovered a significant quantity of narcotics, reinforcing ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in the region.

Officers from the Nambale Police Station intercepted the suspect at a roadblock along the Nambale–Mumias Road, recovering six kilograms of cannabis sativa with an estimated street value of Sh180,000.

The suspect is currently in police custody, awaiting processing and arraignment in court.

Authorities confirmed that the seized drugs have been secured as evidence and will be presented in court to support the case.

Police said the arrest demonstrates their continued vigilance in safeguarding residents from the dangers posed by illegal drugs.

They also reiterated the importance of community cooperation in reporting suspicious activities to strengthen the fight against drug abuse and organised crime.

In a related incident on May 31, 2025, another suspect was arrested in Kwale County during a police operation after being found in possession of six sacks of cannabis sativa.

Officers from the Mackinnon Road Police Station, led by the Officer Commanding Station (OCS), recovered the narcotics alongside 73 cannabis sticks during a raid at Makina Chini Village.

Police said 40 cannabis sticks were found loose on a bed, while the remaining 33, each wrapped in brown paper, were concealed inside a jerrycan. The substances were recovered from two separate rooms within the house.

“A total of six sacks containing the suspected narcotics were recovered from different rooms,” police said in a report.

The suspect was arrested at the scene and remains in custody pending arraignment.

Meanwhile, in the Kibera area of the Nairobi region, officers from the National Police Service (NPS) recovered 2,350 litres of illicit brew in a targeted operation.

In a statement on X, NPS said the recovered substances included 2,000 litres of kangara and 350 litres of chang’aa, which were being sold to residents.

The operation forms part of a wider national crackdown on the production, distribution, and sale of illegal alcoholic drinks, which pose serious health and social risks to the public.

NPS reiterated its commitment to intensifying the war on narcotics and illicit substances, urging community members to work closely with the police by reporting suspicious activities to help eliminate drug trafficking and protect neighbourhoods from related crime.

In October, six Iranian seamen were arrested with Sh8.2bn in methamphetamines off and were arraigned in court.

The haul of 1.024 tonnes of meth is the largest ever in Kenya.

The shipment was intercepted by the Kenya Navy, 630 kilometres off Mombasa, far beyond territorial waters extending 12 nautical miles from the coast.

The previous largest drugs haul was in December 2004 when one tonne of cocaine worth Sh6 billion at the time was seized in Malindi, Kilifi county.