A suspected drug trafficker was arrested on the Mombasa-Nairobi highway after police intercepted a vehicle loaded with bhang near Devki Steel Plant in Kwale County.
According to a statement by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), officers from Samburu Police Station acted on a tip-off from members of the public, leading to the arrest of one suspect and the seizure of a Mazda CX-5, registration KDR 284H, used to transport the narcotics.
The operation unfolded when officers flagged down the vehicle during a routine patrol on Saturday. Upon realizing the police presence, the occupants reportedly attempted to flee in different directions.
One suspect, identified as Christopher Hannington Jobita, was arrested at the scene before he could escape.
Police officers discovered several sacks of bhang neatly packed in the vehicle’s boot, believed to have been destined for the illicit highway trade.
The seized narcotics and the vehicle have since been detained at Samburu Police Station as evidence.
“The suspect is currently being processed ahead of his arraignment in court, while a manhunt has been launched for his accomplice who fled the scene,” DCI said in its statement.
Kwale County has in recent years been identified as a key transit route for narcotics smuggled from neighboring countries, prompting intensified police surveillance along major highways.
Authorities have urged members of the public to continue sharing information that can aid in the fight against drug trafficking.
Police confirmed that investigations are ongoing to establish the source and intended destination of the seized consignment.