Detectives staged a sting operation and arrested six notorious drug traffickers in the coastal towns of Mombasa and Malindi.
A Nigerian national identified as Solomon Okafor, who was among those nabbed and who police said distributed cocaine in Malindi town, was deported on Tuesday morning.
He was deported to Abuja, Nigeria via an Ethiopian airline through the Moi International Airport, Mombasa, police said.
During the operation, detectives recovered 2kg of narcotics, which tested positive for cocaine, and Sh10 million heroin.
Head of Anti Narcotics Police Magaret Karanja said they detained six Kenyans, who are set to appear in court today.
Police disclosed that Okafor had settled in Malindi since 2020, where he set up an elaborate drug distribution network while posing as a hawker, targeting tourists.
Police further detained two motor vehicles used in the illicit distribution of drugs believed to be the proceeds of drug sales.
Assorted packaging and weighing materials were also recovered from the traffickers.
The suspects are being held at Kilindini police station and will be arraigned at Malindi and Mombasa law courts on Friday, police said.
The operation follows a directive from President William Ruto in April to security organs to decisively deal with the narcotics dealers in the coastal region.
A new squad has been set up for the operation, and officials said they will sustain the new war on drug trafficking and consumption.
Tension is high among known drug traffickers in the Coast, who are now seeking refuge in the neighbouring Tanzania for fear of apprehension by the squad, which is said to be precise and ruthless.
Mombasa has suffered the narcotics surge driven by voracious individuals keen on making money, while wreaking havoc on hundreds of families.
Heroin is one of the most trafficked and consumed narcotics at the Coast and the country at large.
Other most trafficked and abused narcotics include cocaine and other psychotropic substances.
Apart from these narcotics, alcohol, miraa, prescription drugs, tobacco, marijuana and inhalants are also widely consumed.
Police say traffickers now use roads as opposed to airports to carry out their business.
The most commonly trafficked narcotic from Tanzania and through Uganda is heroin.
Most of the heroin in the country originates from Afghanistan through the Indian Ocean.
