Eldoret Police Nab KSh 2.86 Million Bhang En Route to Mombasa: “Found in Sacks”
- Two people are in police custody in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu county, after they were found in possession of bhang worth KSh 2.86 million
- The two were arrested on the outskirts of Eldoret city after they were trailed by police officers who had received a tip-off from members of the public
- Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi revealed the identities of the suspects, while a third suspect managed to escape
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Uasin Gishu: Police officers in Eldoret have arrested two people who were found in possession of bhang valued at KSh 2.86 million.
Source: Original
The two were arrested on Wednesday, July 30, at the Maili Nne area on the outskirts of Eldoret town after an operation that started with the police receiving a tip-off from a member of the public.
According to the Uasin Gishu county police commander, Benjamin Mwanthi, detectives trailed a lorry that locals suspected was transporting an illegal substance, leading to the arrests and discovery of the bhang.
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How Eldoret cops nabbed KSh 2.86m bhang
Mwanthi told journalists at the Baharini Police Station that the bhang was found inside the lorry, packed in 12 sacks.
"Today, at around 2am, our officers traced the movements of the lorry transporting the bhang, following a tip-off from members of the public,” the police boss said.
Two of the suspects who were in the lorry were arrested while the third person escaped. Police have since launched a manhunt.
The county police boss identified the arrested suspects as 39-year-old Douglas Okindo and Mathias Ojiambo, aged 29.
Police believe the bhang was being transported to Mombasa.
Following the arrest, the suspects are expected to be arraigned in court, with Mwanthi indicating that they will be seeking orders for the lorry found with the illegal substance to be surrendered to the state.
He also announced that police have enhanced surveillance across all major roads in Uasin Gishu aimed at ensuring no such substances or any other illegal goods are allowed into the county.
"We will now work with the association of long-distance lorry drivers and owners to ensure no one is involved in such an illegal trade, or uses the lorries to evade the police and smuggle illegal substances into the country,” the police boss said.
He further cautioned truck owners against allowing their vehicles to engage in illegal businesses.
Mwanthi noted that part of the new measures they will be implementing is regular impromptu checks on all the long-distance trucks.
How are criminals transporting illegal substances in Eldoret?
He admitted that individuals transporting illegal goods and substances had changed tactics from using high-end vehicles to using lorries and trucks.
“When dynamics change, we also have to change because our work is to ensure the safety of our people,” the Uasin Gishu county police commander said.
He further appealed to members of the public to continue providing them with information about any suspicious activities around them so that they can swiftly act.
Source: Original
In addition, he expressed the need for tougher penalties for individuals found guilty of having illegal substances that have the potential to harm society.
"We want to ensure that Uasin Gishu county is very safe and goods which are being consumed here are safe. We will also not allow the county to be used as a transit for such substances and goods,” Mwanthi said.
Kiambu man intercrops bhang with maize
Previously, TUKO.co.ke reported that police officers in Kiambu were hunting for a man who allegedly intercropped bhang with maize and vegetables.
The bhang was discovered in a one-acre farm within the Kikuyu constituency.
The discovery followed a report made to the police by locals about the activities on the farm.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Joshua Cheloti (Editorial assistant) Joshua Cheloti is a multi-skilled journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media and Communication at Mount Kenya University. At TUKO, he's an editorial assistant. Before TUKO, he worked at Nairobi Review as an editorial writer, at Hope Media (Hope TV and Hope FM) as a correspondent in Eldoret, Hivisasa.com digital content editor and online writer, at Biblia Husema Broadcasting (BHB), Eldoret as Radio Presenter. Email: Joshua.cheloti@tuko.co.ke
Edmond Kipngeno Edmond Kipngeno is a trained multimedia journalist with over 6 years of experience in the media industry. Edmond is currently the TUKO.co.ke correspondent based in Uasin Gishu county,
