DCI crackdown exposes new tactics drug traffickers use

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A crackdown against drugs and substance abuse by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), especially bhang in the last six months has revealed new tactics traffickers have adopted to transport and hawk the drugs.

These include changing routes to evade arrest and growing of cannabis sativa in farms hidden under maize plantations and other crops, and packaging before it is sold in the market with some of it disguised as biscuits.

On July 24, 2026, two suspects escaped arrest before 271.3 kilogrammes of bhang with a street value of Sh13.4 million was recovered from an abandoned Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) along the Chavakakli-Kapsabet road.

On Saturday (August 1, 2026), detectives from the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) arrested a suspect in Mariakani transporting bhang from Busia to Mombasa using a public transport vehicle.

The woman had stashed five gunny bags containing the drug disguised as bananas in the storage compartment of the vehicle that was flagged down at Mariakani weighbridge in an intelligence-led operation.

“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations reiterates its commitment to curbing the cultivation and trade of narcotics across the country. Members of the public are urged to continue sharing actionable intelligence to aid in the dismantling of the illicit drugs network,” the DCI said in a statement on Friday.

“Success in the fight against trafficking and consumption of drugs and substance, is not measured by arrests made or narcotics seized. It is measured by the quality of investigations, successful prosecution, and the permanent dismantling of criminal networks,” Mr Amin said.

The DCI is seeking to improve the capacity of its officers to deal with the crime in a more professional manner and adapt with the changing modes of operation by criminals.

“Modern narcotics syndicates have evolved into organized transnational enterprises exploiting technology and international supply chains” said Mr Amin, on Friday during the graduation of the third cohort of the Anti-Narcotics Investigations Course at the National Criminal Investigations Academy.

Cabinet Secretary for Interior Kipchumba Murkomen said the government will continuously crack down on criminals involved in trafficking of narcotics in the country, so as to ensure a drug-free society prevails.

“We will work with all stakeholders to ensure that we rid the towns, cities, streets, homes and estates of drug trafficking that has destroyed families over the years” Mr Murkomen said.

“The DCI has adopted an intelligence led operation in dealing with drug traffickers in the region as we seek to rid our country of the drug menace. The government has the means to deal with the cartel adequately. They will have nowhere to run to” Mr Murkomen said.

Last week, a dramatic chase in Nakuru town ended with the arrest of two suspects and impoundment of five sacks of bhang weighing 110 kilogrammes with a street value of Sh3.3 million in a Nissan Note vehicle.

The DCI crackdown has revealed the changing routes and means of transporting the stuff from Tanzania through the Sirare-Kenyan border to Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Bomet, Kericho, Nakuru, Narok, Kajiado and entry to Nairobi as dealers seek to beat police dragnets.

As a result of increased surveillance and frequent crackdowns by the various government agencies, the dealers are now resorting to use private saloon vehicles – with the Toyota Wish and the Toyota Probox models being the vehicles of choice.

Most of the drugs are sold in slums, clubs, backstreets, with others available to children in schools and colleges in what has eroded discipline and order in the society.

On July 3, the officers from ANU and their colleagues from Ololua Police Station in Kajiado county arrested a suspect and impounded five gunny bags of bhang weighing 78.98 kilogrammes with an estimated street value of Sh24 million.

A suspected drug trafficker was arrested with eight bags of bhang with 1,600 rolls of bhang on the Silibwet-Kapsimotwa- Kapkwen highway on June 2, after a dramatic chase by the police.

Two weeks ago, a man was arrested in Mai Mahiu after a bhang plantation was discovered hidden in the middle of his maize farm.

A suspect, George Mulwa, has been arrested and charged in court after being found in possession of the bhang in one of the biggest hauls to be confiscated following a dramatic chase by the police. The suspect was released on a Sh800,000 bond and a surety of similar amount or Sh300,000 cash bail.

Two other suspects escaped on foot as the driver in a bid to shake off the pursuing policemen drove into a narrow route at Kapsimotwo trading centre in Bomet Central Constituency.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that there is not only a change of routes but significantly a change in the mode of transport from the source to the market – most of which is in Nairobi” Mr Sigey Bett, a Nairobi based advocate told the Daily Nation.

Suspected drug traffickers

From the Sirare border, it has emerged that it is transported using motorcycles disguised as clothes destined for the market, and handed over to certain dealers who then repackage it in gunny bags, carefully seals them, before loading it into motor vehicles for onward transportation to various markets.

“To beat the police dragnets whenever there are crackdowns, the drivers use unmanned rural routes to bypass the roadblocks which are far apart, before rejoining the highways with the preferred time being at night, early in the morning or late in the evening” Mr Bett said.

It has emerged that whenever the dealers choose to use public service vehicles, it is done at night when there is little surveillance, with the drivers and touts being in the know as they aid in hiding it in the cabins with other legitimate items.

“Unless they are acting on a tip off, the police rarely inspect the goods on transport in buses and matatus as they are primarily concerned with getting their daily bribes from the operators while letting them pass through the roadblocks,” Mr David Anyona, a trader in Chebilat trading centre, Nyamira county, said.

The law provides that a motor vehicle used to transport contraband goods is forfeited to the State, with majority of the owners now resorting to having the dealers sign indemnity forms that states that if got, they are on their own.

On May 22, officers from the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) and Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) arrested two Ugandan nationals in Limuru, Kiambu County, suspected to be drug traffickers, with an undisclosed amount of bhang stashed in bales.

On May 20, detectives in Kilifi County arrested two traffickers – Elisha Mzungu Kalama and Jamai Chilumo Chiraga – with bhang valued at over Sh4.2 million following a raid at a house in Kisumu Ndogo area. The bhang weighing 142 kilogrammes was wrapped in a brown khaki paper, ready for distribution.

On May 14 2026, detectives from ANU and TOCU sections arrested two suspects at a garage and spare shop in Riverside, Ruaka area in Nairobi County where four bales of bhang wrapped in yellow and green cello tape and packed in a blue metallic box were recovered.

“The team recovered 12 blue carrier bags filled with cannabis, stashed in a white bucket, 26 ziplock bags, a digital weighing scale, an automatic vacuum sealer, assorted packaging materials and rolling papers,” DCI stated.

On May 13, two suspects were arrested with 902 rolls of bhang weighing 300 kilograms during a raid at a house in Kwa Holla village, in Mombasa. The suspects also had 300 grams of heroin, all valued at Sh 2.19 million. A digital weighing scale and transparent polythene packaging materials in the raid.

On May 13, a foreign national said to have been in Kenya illegally, was arrested at Kabarnet area in Nairobi’s Ngong Road with 33 sachets of bhang packed and ready for distribution.

Reporting originally appeared via Nation Africa. Read the full source for additional context.