Security officers in Murang’a County have nabbed a consignment of bhang on transit to Nairobi from Isiolo County.
Police officers manning Makuyu road block along Nyeri-Nairobi road Friday also apprehended two people in connection with the consignment, suspected to have been sourced from a neighbouring country.
Muranga County Commander Josephat Kinyua said the 80 bales of bhang were being transported from Ethiopia by a notorious drug trafficker operating from Isiolo and who has been on the police watch list.
One of the suspects, traveling in the vehicle ferrying the bhang had a fake identification card indicating that he was a nurse, working in an Isiolo-based health facility.
“The two culprits are being held at the Makuyu police station waiting to be arraigned in court. It appears the suspects have been using various tricks to beat police roadblocks,” added Kinyua.
It remains unclear how the suspects managed to pass through 13 other roadblocks from Isiolo to Makuyu with the police noting that the bhang was covered with canvas at the boot of Land Cruiser, which could not be noticed s easily.
The suspects were also found with Sh190, 000 in cash believed to be part of money used to bribe their way to their preferred destination.
Kinyua said trafficking of bhang has increased in the region, adding that some drug barons are behind importation of drugs from Ethiopia.
“Security officers are on ground and soon all those behind the illegal business will be apprehended and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” said the police boss.
He continued, “The police are working round the clock to expose the cartels behind importation of bhang from the neighbouring country, adding that investigations will be done to establish if one of the suspect was a public service employee.
The police commander called on members of the public support to expose cartels behind trafficking of bhang in the villages.
Last week, police arrested several people among them two General Service Unit personnel in connection with transportation of the bhang along Marsabit- Isiolo road.
By Bernard Munyao
