MCA Arrested With Bhang

A Member of the County Assembly (MCA) was apprehended in Isiolo Town, alongside an accomplice, with a significant quantity of bhang. The arrest was conducted by the Transnational Organized Crimes Unit and a multi-agency team on the outskirts of Isiolo town.

The seized bhang, valued at more than Sh10 million, had been transported from Ethiopia and was concealed in a house belonging to Nura Abdi Diba at Kambi Garba Estate.

The suspects, driving a Toyota Land Cruiser, were intercepted within Isiolo town before the authorities proceeded to recover 57 stones of the illicit substance from the specified location.

Following the operation, the confiscated evidence was transported to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters for further processing.

The suspects underwent investigative interviews as part of the ongoing legal procedures. Despite attempts to secure their release on bond during the investigation, authorities emphasized the severity of the case.

This incident sheds light on the lucrative nature of the illegal drug trade in the region, with ongoing efforts to combat such activities.

The prevalence of bhang smuggling from Ethiopia into Kenya, particularly through border points like Moyale, Sololo, Uran, Forolle, and Dukana, highlights the persistent challenge faced by law enforcement.

Moyale town emerges as a hotspot for contraband activities, with more than 75 percent of the illicit trade passing through this strategic location.

Smugglers employ various means, including light vehicles, bodaboda (motorbike taxis), donkey carts, and couriers, utilizing unofficial routes, especially at night, to transport bhang into these centers.

The transportation network extends beyond Moyale, involving two main routes to Nairobi. The direct Moyale-Nairobi highway via Marsabit town and Isiolo serves as one path, while an unofficial route, a cutline from Funannyata in Sololo to Yamicha plains of Merti sub-county in Isiolo, provides an alternative route for traffickers.

Recognizing the urgency of addressing this issue, law enforcement agencies have intensified efforts along the more than 700-kilometer stretch. Multi-agency teams have been deployed to disrupt the smuggling network and curb the flow of illegal substances into Nairobi.

This recent arrest follows a pattern of similar incidents in the area. Last November, two individuals were apprehended with Sh1.5 million worth of bhang in a Toyota Prado in Isiolo town.

Additionally, a multi-sectoral security team, including the army, arrested five individuals, including a police constable and a sergeant, with 600 kilos of bhang worth Sh15 million in Archers Post, emphasizing the need for ongoing vigilance and coordinated efforts to combat drug-related crimes in the region.