NAKURU, Kenya — Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested two suspected drug traffickers and seized bhang valued at approximately Sh11.6 million in coordinated operations in Nakuru and Keiyo South, as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle narcotics networks.
In a statement on Saturday, the DCI said officers from the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) in Nakuru, working alongside the Dog Unit, intercepted a silver Toyota Voxy, registration KBN 486Z, along the Kabarak–Nakuru Road after acting on what they described as credible intelligence.
During the operation, the driver reportedly escaped, but the co-driver, Dennis Mukungua, was arrested at the scene.
Large consignment intercepted
A search of the vehicle revealed 12 green sacks and 12 bales of cannabis sativa (bhang) weighing a total of 387 kilograms, police said. Investigators estimate the street value of the narcotics at Sh11,610,000.
“Mukungua, together with the impounded motor vehicle and the recovered narcotics, was escorted to the police station for processing and will be arraigned in court,” the DCI said.
Police said efforts are ongoing to trace and arrest the driver who fled the scene.
Second arrest in Keiyo South
In a separate operation in Keiyo South, ANU detectives teamed up with officers from Metkei Police Station to intercept a Toyota Fielder, registration KDV 627S, in the Kapchorwa area of Kamwosor Location.
The vehicle, driven by Vincent Odhiambo, was searched, leading to the recovery of seven bags of bhang, police said.
Odhiambo was immediately arrested and taken to Metkei Police Station, alongside the seized drugs and the vehicle, as preparations for arraignment commenced.
Legal context and enforcement
Under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, trafficking in cannabis carries stiff penalties, including lengthy prison terms and heavy fines, depending on the quantity involved.
The DCI said the operations form part of sustained, intelligence-led crackdowns targeting supply chains rather than street-level dealers alone.
“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations remains firmly committed to dismantling drug trafficking networks through sustained operations and multi-agency collaboration, with zero tolerance for traffickers regardless of status,” the agency said.
Security analysts note that the seizure highlights the continued use of major highways in the Rift Valley as transit routes for narcotics destined for urban markets. Police have in recent months increased road surveillance and canine patrols in the region.
Both suspects are expected to be presented in court once investigations are completed, as detectives pursue additional suspects linked to the networks behind the consignments.
