Police nab 2 foreigners and local linked to bhang plantation in Diani
By Cynthia Lodite, September 2, 2025Police in Kwale County have successfully apprehended three persons of interest linked to a large bhang plantation in Mwabungo Village of Diani.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the trio was nabbed during a multi-agency raid led by the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) in Diani, following credible intelligence on illegal drug cultivation in the Romika area.
In a report by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, the three key persons of interest included two German nationals and one Kenyan.
“Trio Arrested for Cultivating Marijuana in Diani Three individuals, including two foreign nationals, have been arrested in Mwabungo Village, Diani, following a multi-agency operation targeting illegal drug cultivation,” DCI said.
Police have further revealed that upon gaining access to the premises, the DCI discovered a well-maintained cannabis plantation.
“Acting on credible intelligence, officers led by the Diani OCS raided a residence in the Romika area, where they discovered a cannabis plantation,” DCI said.
Meanwhile, the police have also revealed that two of the persons of interest, aged between sixty-six and sixty-nine, both hold tourist visas.
The police also said the on-site team has evidence that will be vital to prosecution.
The persons of interest have since been handed over to Coast Region Anti-Narcotics detectives for further interrogation and legal action.
“The trio has since been handed over to Coast Region Anti-Narcotics detectives for further investigation. Meanwhile, crime scene investigators have processed and documented the site, which had been converted into a fully operational grow house,” DCI revealed.
Mwabungo bhang plantation incident
The incident follows a recent similar incident in Diani, where a multi-agency security team uncovered what appears to be a sophisticated drug farm in Mwabungo, Diani, believed to be cultivating plants used in the production of hard drugs.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), in a statement shared via social media on Monday, August 4, 2025, confirmed that during a revisit to the scene, officers from specialised DCI units, the Kenya Police Service, and experts from the Government Chemist – Mombasa recovered mature poppy plants and coca plants.
Poppy plants are typically used in the production of heroin, while coca is the raw material for cocaine.
“Today, the suspects were arraigned before the Kwale Court, where the prosecution sought custodial orders. The court granted a 21-day custodial period to allow for further investigations. In a parallel operation, a multi-agency team comprising officers from specialised units of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Kenya Police Service, and experts from the Government Chemist – Mombasa, revisited the scene at Mwabungo area,” the DCI statement read in part.