Kisumu and adjoining counties in Lake Victoria Basin region have emerged as leading sources cannabis sativa that ends up in backstreet markets and inner cities in major owns in Kenya such as Nairobi and Nakuru.

The assessment follows the frequency with which security agencies and ordinary citizens are intercepting drugs in transit on major highways. It has not been established if the drugs originate in neighbouring countries or are locally cultivated. In the past, police have traced the cannabis sativa supply in Kenya to Uganda and western Tanzania.

This follows an incident police in Nyando, Kisumu County, seized five bales of cannabis sativa following an operation to curb trafficking in illegal drugs in the region.

According to the Nyando Sub-County Police Commander Isaiah Mose, police officers acted on a tip-off by members of the public and intercepted a white Toyota Axio car stuffed to the brim with bhang in Ahero Town on Kisumu-Kericho highway on Sunday.

“Police officers, acting on crucial leads about a suspected vehicle ferrying the illicit cargo, launched an operation and flagged down the motor suspect vehicle carrying narcotics at around 05:30pm on Sunday,” Mose stated.

The police commander said the driver failed to comply with directives and made a U-turn at the Ahero Bridge and fled towards Kisumu direction, prompting police to mount a pursuit. The car was later abandoned on a feeder road and the occupants escaped on foot.

“Upon searching the vehicle, officers recovered five 90 kilometre bags and 258 rolls of a substance suspected to be cannabis sativa,” the sub-county commander explained.

He said police secured the drugs and drove the vehicle to Ahero Police Station and launched a manhunt for the suspects. Efforts to trace and arrest the suspects are ongoing with a view to arraigning them in court.

The incident occurred against the backdrop of a similar raid hours earlier on after police in Nyando Sub-County busted another haul of 23 sacks of bhang, that were being transported in a lorry, arresting all the two suspects in Ngere area.

Nyando sub-county commander applauded the public for providing intelligence that led to the seizure of the drugs, urging the public to continue reporting any suspicious or illegal activities.

He reaffirmed the commitment by the National Police Service to combating the narcotics trade in the region.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Robert Ojwang