NAIROBI, Kenya – In an examination of cannabis trafficking, Kenya’s National Crime Research Centre has spotlighted evolving methods of concealing and distributing cannabis.
The report, titled Mapping Cannabis Trafficking in Kenya and authored by Vincent Odhiambo Opondo, reveals a concerning trend: cannabis is increasingly being infused into various food items and products, making detection more difficult.
Cannabis-infused foods, such as cookies, samosas, cakes, and biscuits, have joined an array of unconventional consumption methods.
Opondo’s report states that users are also steeping cannabis as tea leaves, processing it into juice, and using it in homemade sweets, chocolates, and food seasonings.
Some restaurants and clubs have reportedly laced cannabis with shisha tobacco and other substances, while the extraction of cannabis oil is also on the rise.
One of the report’s main concerns is that these products could easily reach unsuspecting consumers, including children.
“Cannabis-laced items concealed within everyday foods pose a serious risk, as they’re often undetectable to the average person,” Opondo warns.
The report identifies various locations where cannabis is openly or covertly distributed. These include office buildings, market centers, boda boda terminals, car wash bays, and even entertainment venues like pool halls and video arcades.
Informal venues—such as garages, construction sites, and university canteens—are also among the areas cited, with substances sometimes hidden within common goods like second-hand clothes, motor vehicle tires, and fruits like watermelons and pineapples.
Traffickers also resort to improvised compartments in vehicles and masking cannabis with perfumes or air fresheners to evade detection.
The network of people involved in distribution has expanded to include individuals in various roles: street children, security guards, casual office workers, and even nannies.
Some traffickers rely on boda boda riders, hawkers, and even school children in uniform as couriers, leveraging the appearance of normalcy to evade suspicion.
Factors fueling the cannabis trade include normalized attitudes toward marijuana, corruption, and inadequate border security.
Additionally, Opondo highlights the role of some officials in law enforcement and government agencies who allegedly facilitate the trade, while the appeal of high profits, combined with peer influence, further sustains demand.
The findings paint a troubling picture of a pervasive and increasingly complex cannabis trade in Kenya.
As authorities work to address the challenges, Opondo’s report underscores the need for community vigilance and robust regulatory measures to curb the spread of concealed cannabis products, particularly to vulnerable groups.
The report, titled Mapping Cannabis Trafficking in Kenya and authored by Vincent Odhiambo Opondo, reveals a concerning trend: cannabis is increasingly being infused into various food items and products, making detection more difficult.
Cannabis-infused foods, such as cookies, samosas, cakes, and biscuits, have joined an array of unconventional consumption methods.
Opondo’s report states that users are also steeping cannabis as tea leaves, processing it into juice, and using it in homemade sweets, chocolates, and food seasonings.
Some restaurants and clubs have reportedly laced cannabis with shisha tobacco and other substances, while the extraction of cannabis oil is also on the rise.
One of the report’s main concerns is that these products could easily reach unsuspecting consumers, including children.
“Cannabis-laced items concealed within everyday foods pose a serious risk, as they’re often undetectable to the average person,” Opondo warns.
The report identifies various locations where cannabis is openly or covertly distributed. These include office buildings, market centers, boda boda terminals, car wash bays, and even entertainment venues like pool halls and video arcades.
Informal venues—such as garages, construction sites, and university canteens—are also among the areas cited, with substances sometimes hidden within common goods like second-hand clothes, motor vehicle tires, and fruits like watermelons and pineapples.
Traffickers also resort to improvised compartments in vehicles and masking cannabis with perfumes or air fresheners to evade detection.
The network of people involved in distribution has expanded to include individuals in various roles: street children, security guards, casual office workers, and even nannies.
Some traffickers rely on boda boda riders, hawkers, and even school children in uniform as couriers, leveraging the appearance of normalcy to evade suspicion.
Factors fueling the cannabis trade include normalized attitudes toward marijuana, corruption, and inadequate border security.
Additionally, Opondo highlights the role of some officials in law enforcement and government agencies who allegedly facilitate the trade, while the appeal of high profits, combined with peer influence, further sustains demand.
The findings paint a troubling picture of a pervasive and increasingly complex cannabis trade in Kenya.
As authorities work to address the challenges, Opondo’s report underscores the need for community vigilance and robust regulatory measures to curb the spread of concealed cannabis products, particularly to vulnerable groups.
