By Patricia Mollyne Mataga
Police officers in Kisii County have seized 50 sacks suspected to be of bhang, also known as Cannabis Sativa.
The National Police Service (NPS) in a statement on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, said the bags were nabbed following an operation that involved their officers and those from the Transnational Organized Crimes Unit.
During the operation conducted along the Migori-Kisii highway, four vehicles were intercepted.
It’s from the four vehicles that the bhang haul was discovered. The police say the street value of the nabbed illegal substances is estimated to be at least Ksh57.5 million.
“On 23/04/2024 night, NPS Officers from Gesonso Police Station in Kisii County and their DCI counterparts from the Transnational Organized Crimes Unit intercepted four vehicles recovered 50 sacks of suspected to be Cannabis Sativa with an estimated street value of Ksh. 37,500,000 at Itierio area, along Migori -Kisii Highway,” the NPS said in a statement.
One person was arrested during the operation.
NPS identified the arrested suspect as Joseph Nisa Ouma, who was an occupant of a Toyota Probox – one of the four vehicles intercepted.
Meanwhile, the police have launched a manhunt for the drivers of four vehicles who managed to escape them.
“One suspect namely Joseph Nisa Ouma an occupant of KCR 176 C (Toyota Probox) was also arrested while in possession of Ksh. 30, 000/=, while the rest of the drivers escaped,” the NPS said in the statement.
Police have since identified the four vehicles impounded during the operation as bearing registration plates KCQ O81 R, KBM 645 S and KBX 751 Y.
The four have been detained pending the conclusion of investigations and arraignment of the suspects.
The possession, sale and consumption of bhang is illegal in Kenya as outlined in the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act which explicitly states that possession of any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance, including cannabis, is an offence.
Kenya has some of the harshest penalties for drug offences in Africa, with possession of even small amounts of cannabis carrying a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.