Police seize bhang worth Sh47 million in Eldoret

Police in Baharini, Eldoret West, have intercepted more than 500 kilogrammes of bhang worth Sh37 million during an operation on the Eldoret–Webuye–Malaba highway.

On the same route, officers also seized another lorry transporting cannabis sativa valued at Sh9.5 million, disguised as parcels.

Uasin Gishu Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi said 190 kilogrammes of bhang had been concealed in a lorry labelled as biscuits, packed in several cartons from Uganda and destined for Mombasa through Eldoret.

The interception is part of a well-coordinated police strategy to dismantle major trafficking networks in the North Rift, following reports that drug traffickers had changed tactics to evade arrest.

The illegal consignment was seized at Baharini, about five kilometres from Eldoret City, after a tip-off from the public.

“Officers led by Baharini OCS Abdikadir Maalim acted on the information and intercepted a transit lorry carrying the goods. On inspection, they found several boxes of biscuits used to hoodwink officers manning roadblocks,” said Commander Mwanthi.

He questioned how the suspect lorry managed to pass through Busia and Bungoma counties undetected.

“We have arrested the driver, and he will be arraigned once investigations are complete,” he said.

The police boss added that the seized Isuzu FRR lorry, which was used to transport parcels and bhang, will be kept as an exhibit during the court proceedings.

Mwanthi further noted that in recent weeks, police in the region have made significant breakthroughs in the fight against drug trafficking, intercepting consignments worth millions of shillings along the busy highway.

“Investigations into the latest incident are ongoing to identify other members of the drug trafficking network operating in the region to bring the vice to an end,” stressed Mwanthi.

He revealed that drug traffickers along the busy highway have devised new ways of concealing consignments by disguising them as legal goods headed to Mombasa.

The police commander warned that vehicles implicated in such syndicates will be forfeited to the state, stressing that the operation is not targeting specific individuals.

He added that just last month, two suspects—a driver and his co-driver—were arrested at the same spot while trafficking bhang worth Sh27 million from Uganda en route to Likoni, Mombasa.