A 44-year-old man has been arrested and Sh3.5 million worth of bhang seized in Athi River, Machakos County.
The man was arrested after police officers stormed the store he was manning at Kwa Mang'eli village within Athi River Township on Wednesday night.
Police said the suspect was arrested following an operation prompted by a tip of from members of the public.
The matter was reported to Athi River police station as a seizure of narcotics drugs (bhang) on OB NO: 90/23/10/2024.
"Acting on a tip-off from members of the public, police officers from Athi River police station led by the OCS conducted an operation and traced a store located at an unfinished building situated at Kwa Mang'eli area whereby they managed to break into the store and recovered from there in eight sacks containing Cannabis Sativa (bhang) weighing 115kgs of street value Sh3, 450, 000," a police report seen by the Star read in part.
"One suspect was arrested during the operation while manning the said store and escorted together with the exhibit to Athi River police station."
The suspect was locked up at the station and the exhibit was kept in the institution's store.
Police said the suspect will be arraigned at Mavoko Law Courts in Machakos County once investigations are complete.
Police have launched a probe into the incident.
The incident happened barely two days after police intercepted a motor vehicle and seized Sh6.9 million worth of bhang within Machakos Township on Monday.
The vehicle's driver was arrested and six number plates belonging to different motor vehicles were recovered from the scene.
Machakos County Commissioner Josephine Ouko said the man was nabbed after police officers intercepted a motor- vehicle he was driving within Machakos Township at around midnight.
Ouko said the officers also recovered six registration number plates belonging to different motor vehicles during the arrest.
The motor vehicle was impounded at Machakos police station.
“Yesterday at midnight (Monday), our officers on patrol were able to intercept this vehicle you are seeing here carrying two sacks of cannabis sativa (bhang) weighing 200 with a street value of about Sh6.9million. According to the driver, he was ferrying the consignment from Migori to Kitui County, claims we can’t authenticate,” Ouko said.
Accompanied by Machakos County police commander Patrick Lobolia, she addressed the press at the latter’s office compound on Tuesday.