Police recover 11 sachets of heroin, arrest person of interest
By Nancy Marende, July 16, 2025Police in Kilifi have arrested a person of interest found in possession of 11 sachets of a substance believed to be heroin, following a public tip-off.
In a statement released on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, the National Police Service (NPS) reported that officers from Kilifi Police Station received intelligence from concerned members of the public regarding suspicious drug-related activity in the Kibaoni area of Kilifi North Sub-County.
Acting swiftly on the information, the officers launched an operation and laid an ambush in the area.
“Upon conducting a search, the officers recovered a nylon packet containing eleven (11) sachets of a substance suspected to be heroin, along with Ksh800 believed to be proceeds from the illicit trade,” read the statement in part.
The person of interest is currently being held at Kilifi Police Station, pending processing and arraignment in court. The recovered exhibits have been secured at the same facility as part of the ongoing investigation.
“The National Police Service commends members of the public for their continued cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking and other crimes,” read the statement.
Siaya crackdown
This comes a week after police in Siaya County intensified the war on drugs and contraband following a major operation on July 3, 2025, that led to the arrest of one person of interest and the recovery of narcotics and illicit goods.
The operation, led by officers from Bondo Police Station in Nyang’oma Sub-Location, uncovered 270 rolls of bhang (cannabis), 50 kilograms of smuggled Ugandan Bugiri brown sugar, and 78 packets of export cigarettes.
“Police officers from Bondo Police Station yesterday, 3 July 2025, conducted a successful operation targeting illicit brews and narcotics in Nyang’oma Sub-Location, Siaya County,” a post on NPS’s X account dated July 4, 2025, stated.
“During the operation, one suspect was arrested and found in possession of 270 rolls of bhang, uncustomed goods, including 50 kilograms of Ugandan sugar, and 78 packets of export cigarettes, among other items,” the statement added.
The seizure, authorities say, signals the intersection of narcotics and cross-border smuggling. Nyang’oma lies in proximity to the Busia border, a known smuggling route, raising concerns of organised criminal networks operating in the region.
The NPS revealed that the person of interest was placed in police custody, pending processing and arraignment in court.
“The person of interest was placed in police custody, pending processing and arraignment in court,” read the post.