Two suspects are in police custody after being caught transporting 10 sacks of bhang with an estimated street value of KSh7.5 million. The operation, which unfolded across two counties, ended in a dramatic police chase and subsequent arrest in Kitanga Village, Machakos County.
The two suspects, identified as Samuel Baraza Nyongesa and Lawrence Onyango Asindi, were reportedly ferrying 250 kilograms of bhang from Lari in Kiambu County to Machakos. They were driving a black Toyota Noah, registration number KDN 218A, when they encountered a police dragnet at the Lari Flyover. However, the duo managed to evade the initial checkpoint, triggering a high-speed pursuit.
Acting on a tip-off, anti-narcotics officers pursued the suspects for nearly 100 kilometres before successfully intercepting their vehicle in Kitanga. Once the vehicle was stopped and searched, officers uncovered 10 gunny bags stuffed with bhang hidden inside the car.
Preliminary investigations suggest the suspects are part of a larger drug trafficking network operating between central and eastern Kenya. Their capture marks a significant breakthrough for authorities who have been intensifying efforts to curb the rising flow of narcotics through the country’s major roadways.
The drug haul, now in police custody, has been taken to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Headquarters for further processing. Authorities are continuing their investigations to determine the origin of the drugs and identify other individuals who may be involved in the trafficking ring.
Drug trafficking continues to pose a major challenge in Kenya, with authorities frequently seizing large quantities of cannabis and other illicit substances along transport corridors. The route between Kiambu and Machakos has emerged as a key conduit for traffickers due to its access to both rural supply zones and urban demand centres.
The latest incident has sparked renewed calls for enhanced surveillance and tighter law enforcement on highways commonly used by drug traffickers. Community members are also being urged to cooperate with law enforcement by reporting suspicious activity, particularly regarding the movement of unregistered or unusual cargo vehicles.
Law enforcement officers credited the success of the operation to swift intelligence gathering and cooperation between various police units. Authorities have emphasized that such arrests are crucial in disrupting the supply chains that fuel drug abuse and organized crime.
Nyongesa and Asindi are expected to be arraigned in court, where they will face multiple charges related to drug possession, transportation, and possible trafficking. The prosecution will also likely seek to hold the suspects in remand pending further investigations, given the quantity and value of the narcotics involved.
As investigations continue, police are analyzing data recovered from the suspects, including phone records and potential surveillance footage from various checkpoints. This could lead to more arrests as they seek to dismantle the broader network responsible for smuggling drugs into and across counties.
This latest seizure underscores the ongoing commitment by law enforcement to stem the tide of narcotics entering Kenyan communities and highlights the importance of continued vigilance and community involvement in the fight against drug trafficking.
