Laikipia detectives have arrested a man suspected of being involved in acquiring land registration through deceitful means.
Upon his arrest, detectives recovered 135 title deeds, each bearing different names from various land registries, all of which were found in his car.
The suspect is currently in custody, undergoing processing pending arraignment.
His vehicle was also detained, as it was linked to the illicit transactions involving fraudulently obtained land.
Meanwhile, the recovered title deeds are being securely held as exhibits in the ongoing investigation.
Land fraud cases have been on the rise amid police probes to address the trend.
Detectives say the
cases are complicated as some of the documents have been used to secure loans
from various financial institutions.
Some of the cases
have now moved from urban to rural areas, which complicates the saga further,
police say.
A special unit has
been created and devolved to focus on the reported cases.
Elsewhere, a multi-agency team intercepted a
long-haul truck and recovered a significant haul of cannabis sativa, netting
four traffickers.
The operation, which played out on the busy Moyale-Isiolo highway, saw officers flag down a Mercedes-Benz Actros, driven by a 33-year-old man.
A search of the truck revealed gunny bags
stuffed with tightly packed bales of cannabis, each bundle wrapped in yellowish
cellotape and cunningly stashed within the truck’s chassis.
The concealment technique suggested a well-coordinated drug trafficking attempt.
Alongside the driver, three other suspects were arrested on the spot.
The suspects, along with the illicit cargo, were
escorted to Isiolo Police Station, where they are currently being processed
ahead of a court appearance.
The drugs are believed to have originated the neighbouring Ethiopia.
The traffickers usually
pack the drugs in Moyale before they transport them to Nairobi and other parts
of the country for a ready market.
Some use the Wajir-Garissa-Mwingi route, others attempt the Turkana-Kitale-Eldoret one and others the Isiolo-Samburu-Nakuru route.
Most of the narcotics
are consumed in various urban areas.
This comes amid heightened war on the business at large.
Police say they have seized tons of the narcotics.
Last week, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) oversaw a narcotics destruction exercise aimed at combating drug trafficking and illegal substance abuse in Moyale, Marsabit County.
The destroyed narcotics were exhibits from cases concluded at the Sololo Mobile Court and the Moyale Law Courts.
The destruction exercise, held in Odda, targeted a significant quantity of narcotic drugs, including three tonnes of bhang and 287 grams of cocaine, all seized during various enforcement operations in the region.
The disposal followed a legal application filed by the ODPP, which resulted in the issuance of court orders authorizing the destruction of the narcotics.
Prosecution Counsel Bernard Leadi, representing the DPP, reiterated ODPP's unwavering commitment to the prosecution of drug-related offences.
He also underscored
the importance of continued collaboration among stakeholders in the fight
against narcotics.
Representatives from the National Police Service, the Judiciary, the Kenya Prisons Service, and other stakeholders attended the event.
This event underscores the commitment of the Criminal Justice System in combating the use, sale, and distribution of narcotic drugs, fostering safer communities for all
