Police in Mombasa burn bhang worth Sh12 million

Security agencies in Mombasa have destroyed 25,200 rolls of bhang worth Sh12.6 million.
The bhang haul which was set ablaze on Friday evening was recovered from the house of a businesswoman in Kiembeni estate of Kisauni Sub County.
Police ransacked the house of the suspect and nabbed the narcotics following a tip off from members of the public shortly after the woman returned from a business trip to western Kenya.
Police said the suspect will be produced before a court on Monday for unauthorized possession of narcotics.
Coast Regional Commissioner John Elung’ata set the bhang on fire at an open field a few meters away from the house of the suspect who is in police custody as residents watched and cheered.
National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (Nacada) coast regional director George Karisa said the decision to destroy the cannabis sativa is meant to send a powerful message to the notorious drug traffickers.
“By burning seized illicit drugs we are sending a powerful message to drug peddlers and suppliers out there that their days are numbered,” said Karissa adding that it would not be business as usual for the traffickers.
He urged the community to support the security agencies in eradicating the drug menace saying drug dealers do not care the problem they create in the society.
Karisa said all the drug dealers care about is money and care less if the drug scourge destroys the young generation.
The incident comes three weeks after police in Kilifi seized 9000 rolls of bhang worth Sh5 million.
Residents who witnessed the destruction of the illicit consignment urged the police to intensify the war on drugs and related crimes through sting operations.
According to Nacada hundreds of youth are addicted to drugs in the region and that substance abuse continues to be a challenge for the police.
By Hussein Abdullahi