Security along Moyale-Isiolo Highway has been heightened to combat increasing cases of drug trafficking suspected to originate form the neighboring country.
Moreover, on Tuesday June 28, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) reported that the move follows a revelation that, proceeds from the sale of these drugs are used to fund criminal activities in the country.
Furthermore, the highway has become a major transit route for smuggling drugs from Ethiopia into Kenya
“Intelligence leads indicate that the traffickers procure the drug from associates in a neighboring country,” DCI said.
Likewise, this statement from the DCI comes days after police officers apprehended five drug traffickers at the Sabache area along the Moyale-Isiolo highway, Samburu County who were transporting Marijuana with a street value of over Sh2.5 million.
“In the noon incident, a contingent of a special multi-agency team, braving the scorching sun that is synonymous with the upper eastern county, were manning a vehicle checkpoint they had mounted on the highway when a beige land cruiser hastily approached. The driver of the vehicle, who was acting suspiciously was ordered to stop and alight, to facilitate a proper search,” the DCI reported.
Upon comprehensive inspection of the vehicle, the officers recovered 41 stones of marijuana locally known as ‘Shashamane’ tightly wrapped in a khaki paper and sealed with heavy layers of tape.
The DCI confirmed that the drugs weighed 773.6Kgs.
Nonetheless, the agency warned members of the public against dealing in drugs, adding that the offense could attract heavy penalties or imprisonment.
“Kenyans are reminded that marijuana is a prohibited drug and being found in possession, trafficking or growing the plant attracts heavy penalties of up-to 20 years behind bars,” the agency cautioned.
