Police nab suspected bhang worth Sh17 million in Kisii

By Peter Ochieng

National Police Service (NPS) officers attached to Moticho Police Station and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Gucha South in Kisii county, on Saturday nabbed two motor vehicles loaded with 14 sacks and 6 bails of suspected bhang.

It weighed a total of 189Kgs in the KBY 313D registered vehicle, and 399Kgs in KBQ 371U. It all tallied to 588Kgs with a reported street value of Sh17,640,000.

NPS in a statement said five suspects were also arrested.

They are 35 year old Livingstone Akoko, 25 year old Maxon Ochieng, Maxwell Musuku, Fan Odhiambo and Abdirahman Ismael. Two other suspects escaped.

"The exhibits including the suspected substance, (KBQ 371 U Toyota Kluger, Nissan X-trail, KBY 313D KCY 080Y ISUZU ), and an extra number plate for KBR 479A are detained at Nyamarambe Police Station. The case is pending under investigation by DCI Gucha South," added NPS.

Kenyans who reacted to the NPS statement wondered how police determined the substance's street value, when they were in the first place, not sure if it was bhang.

"Suspected? How did you determine the value when you are not even sure what it is?" wrote Nyokal Gundi.

"How did you know the price," added Omar Hassan Yusuf.

On Friday, Chief of Staff and the Head of Public Service Felix Koskei urged National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) to step up the fight against alcohol and drug abuse in the country.

Koskei said that alcoholism and drug abuse had risen to unprecedented levels, robbing the country of a youthful generation, whose knowledge and skills would help spur development.

“Drug and alcohol abuse has become a menace. Many youths have become zombies. Chiefs, assistant chiefs, assistant county commissioners, deputy county commissioners, Members of the County Assembly, governors and all other leaders should unite to fight the vice. We should not relent or surrender in this fight,” said Koskei.

He spoke at Machakos University, when he launched the Last Mile County Connectivity Project (LMCCP).