Police in Malindi have intercepted a Lamu-bound bus and uncovered a large consignment of bhang concealed among second-hand clothes in a dramatic operation that also saw one suspect flee the scene. The early Sunday morning incident occurred at Sabaki Bridge in Kilifi County when officers conducting routine checks stopped a Tawakal Bus Service vehicle traveling from Nairobi to Lamu.
During the inspection, officers noticed suspicious luggage in the bus’s compartment. What initially appeared to be normal bundles of mitumba clothes turned out to be two large bales of cannabis sativa carefully wrapped and hidden among the garments. The officers immediately launched a thorough search of the entire vehicle to determine if there were additional illicit substances or accomplices involved.
However, amid the commotion, one male passenger suspected to be the owner of the contraband managed to escape on foot. He disappeared into nearby bushes before the police could apprehend him. A manhunt has since been launched to track down the fugitive, who is believed to have been transporting the bhang to the coastal region for distribution.
The bus driver and conductor were arrested on the spot and taken into custody to assist investigators in determining their level of involvement in the trafficking attempt. According to police, they will remain detained as investigations continue. The two bales of bhang were seized and are being held as exhibits pending laboratory analysis and further legal procedures.
Authorities have reiterated their commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks that use public transport to move narcotics between regions. They noted that traffickers often disguise their shipments within harmless-looking goods such as mitumba, foodstuffs, or farm produce in an effort to evade detection.
Residents have been urged to cooperate with security agencies by reporting any suspicious activities that may indicate drug movement or concealment. The incident underscores the increasing vigilance by security personnel along major transport routes as part of efforts to curb the spread of narcotics, which continue to pose a serious threat to public health and security in the coastal region and across the country.
As the search for the escaped suspect continues, police have warned that those caught aiding or abetting drug traffickers will face the full force of the law
