Three suspects in Subukia, Nakuru County were on Friday arrested for transporting marijuana disguised as animal feed.
The illicit substance is suspected to have originated from Moyale or Ethiopia.
Police report that the drug trafficking syndicate has been testing the effectiveness of stringent measures implemented by anti-drug enforcement officers to combat illegal trade in the country.
During the operation, 45 bales of marijuana, weighing a total of 138 kilograms, were discovered packed separately in two vehicles.
The seizure followed a tip-off to the police regarding the suspicious Nissan vehicle, triggering it's interception in Subukia while enroute to Nakuru.
After a search and uncovering of nine bales hidden under sacks of hay, the driver directed detectives to his two accomplices, who were found relaxing at a hotel in Nakuru city.
Police reported that two additional suspects were apprehended, and 36 more bales of the illicit substance, weighing 79 kilograms, were seized from their car.
The case has been referred to the Rift Valley Regional Headquarters in Nakuru, where legal proceedings have begun.
Authorities said that much of these narcotics come from Ethiopia, where they are packaged before being distributed to markets in Nairobi and other major towns.
Police say the traffickers use the porous Kenya-Ethiopia border to get their illegal consignment into the country.
The border town of Moyale in northern Kenya is an entry point for large hauls of bhang widely grown in southern Ethiopia.
Once the bhang leaves Shashamane, it heads down south to the border points of Moyale, Sololo, Corolla, Uran and Dukana.
Others use Mandera, Wajir, Garissa route.The other route runs from Funannyata in Sololo, Marsabit county, to the Yamicha plains of Merti subcounty in Isiolo.
They take the consignments to Eastleigh, Majengo and Mlango Kubwa for repackaging and distribution.
During a joint operation on February 9, 2024, authorities initially discovered 28 bales concealed on the roof cabin of a lorry disguised as a mattress transport vehicle.
Upon further inspection, a hidden compartment reinforced with sturdy bolts and rails was found, revealing an additional 104 bales.
Law enforcement has intensified efforts targeting this illicit business, seizing numerous bales valued at millions of shillings.
Police and anti-drug authorities are alarmed by the growing prevalence of shashamane, a drug originating from Ethiopia that has gained popularity in local markets over the past few years.
Officials say an increase in the use of shashamane is a major challenge in fighting substance abuse.
The drug is boiled in a pot and smoked like shisha, or rolled into joints.
Some addicts mix the drug with mustard seed oil and cannabis before rolling it in joints.
The smoke can affect people as far as four metres away.
Traffickers often conceal it in sacks of rice and sugar.