Kitui and Mwingi towns have been rocked by a major crackdown on illegal cannabis sales just ahead of the Easter holidays, leaving several insiders complaining that they lost their “share” after their well-known peddlers were arrested over the weekend.
The suspects, notorious for their role in circulating cannabis sativa in Kitui and Mwingi, were reportedly operating in areas with ready markets for the drug, according to the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).
An insider told Channel 15 News that the suspect had lived as an untouchable, operating openly despite suspicions surrounding him.
In a dramatic raid on Thursday dawn, NACADA officers seized bhang valued at over KSh 1 million in Katyethoka, a Kitui town neighbourhood. Among the recovered items were more than 5,600 ready-to-consume rolls of bhang, along with polythene bags, weighing scales, and rolling papers. The operation targeted both the suspect’s residence and his commercial premises after prior surveillance by NACADA.
Speaking during a press briefing after the raid, NACADA CEO Anthony Omerikwa said:
“Today’s operation demonstrates NACADA’s unwavering commitment to protecting society, especially now that schools are closing and children are at home for the holidays.”
Omerikwa thanked community members for their continued support in the fight against substance abuse, urging them to remain vigilant and report any information on drug peddling to NACADA or the nearest police station.
The arrested suspect is currently in police custody awaiting court appearance on charges of drug trafficking and possession of narcotics. This move aligns with President William Ruto’s intensified campaign against drug trafficking across the country.
