KISII, Kenya — Police have seized 243 rolls of bhang and recovered a motorcycle suspected to have been used for drug trafficking during an anti-narcotics operation in Kisii County, the National Police Service has said.
According to a statement issued by the police, officers from Kerina Police Station, led by the Officer in Charge of the Station (OCS), conducted the operation on Tuesday in the Mwata area of Kisii South Sub-County following intelligence on suspected drug activity.
During the operation, officers recovered the narcotics hidden inside a maize plantation, a tactic commonly used by traffickers to conceal illegal substances and evade detection.
“During the operation, the officers recovered 243 rolls of bhang, which were found in a maize plantation,” the police said.
In addition to the drugs, officers also recovered a red TVS motorcycle, which police believe was being used to transport narcotics within the area.
The exhibits have been seized and are currently being held securely at Kerina Police Station as investigations continue.
The suspect linked to the drugs, however, escaped from the scene during the operation and is currently being pursued by police.
“The suspect managed to escape and is being sought,” the statement said.
Police said the operation forms part of a sustained crackdown on narcotics, which authorities say continues to pose serious social, economic, and security risks, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas.
Under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, possession, trafficking, and cultivation of bhang are criminal offences punishable by heavy fines and custodial sentences.
Law enforcement agencies have, in recent months, stepped up operations targeting supply chains rather than low-level users.
Security analysts say drug trafficking networks often exploit agricultural zones and remote settlements to store and distribute narcotics, complicating enforcement efforts and increasing the need for community cooperation.
The public has been urged to report tips through the toll-free numbers 999, 911 or 112, or anonymously via #FichuaKwaDCI on 0800 722 203 or WhatsApp 0709 570 000.
