NAKURU, Kenya — Detectives from the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) have arrested a 42-year-old man and seized heroin worth Sh1.19 million in an intelligence-led operation in Nakuru, dealing a blow to what police believe was an active drug trafficking network.
The suspect, Ephantus Kariuki Mwangi, was arrested while riding a motorcycle, registration number KMEC 785W, after detectives flagged his luggage as suspicious.
A search of the luggage led to the recovery of 397 grams of heroin, which was carefully concealed for transport. Officers also recovered two syringes and needles, ten rolls of bhang, and three packets of Supermatch cigarettes, indicating possible involvement in both trafficking and consumption of narcotics.
Police said the arrest disrupted what was believed to be a supply run intended to distribute drugs within Nakuru and possibly beyond.
“The arrest effectively cut short an active drug supply operation,” the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said in a statement.
Mwangi is currently being held in police custody as detectives finalise investigations ahead of his arraignment in court.
The seizure comes as Kenyan authorities intensify efforts to crack down on drug trafficking and abuse, which security agencies say continues to pose a major threat to public health, safety, and national security.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations reiterated its commitment to dismantling drug networks through intelligence-driven operations and multi-agency cooperation, warning traffickers that no one is above the law.
“We remain firmly committed to dismantling drug trafficking networks through relentless operations and multi-agency collaboration,” the DCI said.
The case adds to a growing list of recent anti-narcotics operations as law enforcement agencies seek to curb the flow of illegal drugs across urban centres and transport corridors.
