Police seize KSh3M bhang in Uasin Gishu

Police officers in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, have arrested two persons of interest found ferrying twelve sacks of bhang estimated to be worth KSh3 million.
The operation comes just a week after the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen promised to fight drug trafficking in the country during the Jukwaa la Usalama campaign in the North Rift region.
The consignment originally from Uganda was destined for Likoni, Mombasa County.
The operation was executed on Wednesday, 30 July 2025, the morning after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations DCI received a tip-off about a suspicious transit vehicle that was on its way back to Kenya after delivering cement in Uganda.
According to Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi, traffickers have gone away from using private luxury cars and are now opting for large commercial trucks to smuggle drugs.
“It seems smugglers are now changing tactics. Initially, they used Porsche vehicles like Harriers, but now they have shifted to transit vehicles. If their dynamics change, we will also change our mode of operation,” Mwanthi stated.
Mwanthi further stated the plan to seek legal orders to forfeit the transit lorry used to ferry drugs to the state, while calling upon drug truck owners to be vigilant and ensure their trucks are used to ferry the right products.
He applauded the Truck Owners Association and their Secretary General for working hand in hand with the police to put an end to the smuggling of drugs in the country.
“Some truck owners are not even aware that their trucks are being used for drug trafficking. Our number is in the public domain. All track owners are free to call us and confirm with us if the goods being transported using their trucks are the right ones, to avoid forfeiting their trucks to the state.”
The police boss called on the Judiciary to give harsh punishment to convicted drug dealers to act as a deterrent. He raised concerns over the increased use of drugs and substance abuse, most especially amongst the youth, which has affected their output.
“There should be no mercy for anyone convicted of drug dealing. It’s sad for parents seeing their children not being able to make life achievements because of a few individuals who would rather fill their pockets than see our children secure a great future.”
Mwanthi also advised all school administrators to cooperate with the police, while offering to deploy sniffer dogs, especially during school reopening, as a way of curbing drug smuggling in schools, which has become rampant.
Mwanthi’s sentiments were echoed by Uasin Gishu County Criminal Investigation Officer, Daniel Muleli, who appealed to all citizens to join in the fight against drug smuggling.
“We cannot fight this battle alone. We need all the support we can get from the public to ensure drug smuggling becomes a thing of the past,” stated Muleli.
The duo will remain in custody at the Baharini police station awaiting arraignment.