Officers from the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) have seized bhang with an estimated street value of Ksh1 million and apprehended a suspected high-profile trafficker during an early morning raid in Kitui County.
The operation, coordinated by officers from NACADA’s Nairobi headquarters, targeted the suspect’s residence and commercial premises in the early hours of Thursday. During the search, authorities recovered more than 5,600 rolls of ready-to-use cannabis, three rolling flags, cannabis in various other forms, weighing scales, rolling papers, and polythene bags used for packaging.
NACADA Chief Executive Officer Anthony Omerikwa confirmed the arrest, stating that the raid was the culmination of weeks of intensive surveillance. He characterized the operation as a critical step in a sustained national effort to dismantle illicit drug distribution networks that have been operating within the region.
“Today’s operation demonstrates NACADA’s unwavering commitment to protecting society, especially now that schools are closed and children are at home for the holidays,” Omerikwa said during a press briefing following the seizure. He emphasized the vulnerability of students during the current break, noting that the Authority is prioritizing enforcement to ensure peddlers do not exploit the lack of structured school environments to target the youth.
The CEO also highlighted the role of community intelligence in the success of the mission. He commended members of the public for their partnership, describing them as a “dependable ally” in the broader war against substance abuse. Omerikwa urged citizens to remain vigilant and continue volunteering information to help protect communities from the social and health harms associated with narcotics.
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Local residents in Kitui expressed relief following the police action. A community member, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, alleged that the suspect had been a known figure in the local illicit trade for several years. The resident noted that parents in the neighborhood had long lived in fear of the suspect’s influence on local teenagers and expressed hope that the judicial process would ensure a permanent solution to the problem.
This crackdown aligns with a series of high-profile enforcement raids conducted by the Authority across various counties. These actions follow a renewed directive from President William Ruto, who recently called on multi-agency teams to intensify the fight against drug abuse and the production of illicit alcohol in the country to safeguard Kenya’s human capital.
The surge in enforcement also comes amid rising concerns from social welfare groups regarding the prevalence of narcotics in rural towns, which were previously considered less affected than major urban centers like Nairobi and Mombasa. Data from NACADA suggests that the decentralization of drug distribution has necessitated a shift in tactical operations toward counties like Kitui.
The suspect is currently being held in police custody. According to NACADA officials, the individual is expected to be arraigned in court to face formal charges, including drug trafficking and the possession of prohibited narcotics. The recovered substances have been documented as evidence for the upcoming legal proceedings.
Authorities have indicated that further investigations are underway to determine if the suspect is linked to a larger trafficking ring operating between the coast and the lower eastern regions of Kenya. NACADA has pledged to maintain its presence in the area until the distribution chain is fully neutralized.
