Detectives attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have recovered cannabis valued at more than KSh 11 million following two successful anti-narcotics operations in Nakuru County.
In the first incident, officers from the Anti-Narcotic Unit, working alongside the K9 dog unit, intercepted a vehicle suspected of transporting illegal drugs along the Kabarak–Nakuru highway. While the driver escaped, police arrested the vehicle’s co-driver at the scene.
A thorough search of the car led to the recovery of 12 green sacks and 12 tightly packed bales of bhang, weighing approximately 387 kilograms. The suspect has since been placed in police custody pending arraignment, as the seized narcotics are being held as exhibits for court proceedings.
In a separate crackdown within the county, detectives stopped a Toyota Fielder in the Kamwosor area of Keiyo South Constituency after raising suspicions of drug trafficking. Officers discovered seven bags of the prohibited substance inside the vehicle and arrested the driver. He is currently being detained at Metkei Police Station awaiting formal charges.
Authorities estimate the total street value of the drugs seized in the two operations at approximately KSh 11.61 million.
The arrests are part of a broader nationwide campaign to combat the production, distribution, and abuse of drugs and illicit brews. Recently, detectives in Nakuru County also apprehended a 42-year-old suspect found with heroin worth about KSh 1.19 million, which had been concealed in luggage transported on a motorcycle.
To strengthen the war on narcotics, the government has rolled out several new measures. Earlier in 2026, President William Ruto announced plans to significantly expand the Anti-Narcotics Unit within the DCI, increasing its personnel from around 200 officers to nearly 700. The additional officers will undergo specialised training comparable to that of the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit, including advanced forensic and financial investigation techniques.
The Ministry of Interior has further revealed that investigations have uncovered major drug traffickers operating under the guise of legitimate businesses. Officials say the focus will now shift from asset seizures to dismantling the financial networks that sustain the illegal trade.
Meanwhile, the judiciary has reinforced its commitment by establishing specialised courts at major entry points such as airports, seaports, and border crossings to expedite the handling of narcotics-related cases.
Together, these initiatives underscore the government’s intensified efforts to eliminate drug trafficking and substance abuse in Kenya – an issue President Ruto has repeatedly described as a serious threat to the country’s youth and future.
