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Police intercept bhang worth Ksh13.3M in Elgeyo Marakwet
20th January, 2026 09:35 AM
Police officers in Elgeyo Marakwet County have seized seven bags of cannabis weighing 266.2 kilograms with an estimated street value of Ksh13,310,000.
According to reports by the officers, the bhang was being transported from Busia County to Nairobi County; however, it was intercepted at the Metkei area along the Eldoret-Ravine road in Keiyo South Constituency, Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Elgeyo Marakwet County Commissioner David Kosgei confirmed that security agencies intercepted a major drug consignment on Monday, January 19, 2026.
Acting on intelligence provided by members of the public, authorities were alerted to a suspicious vehicle suspected of trafficking drugs and other illicit substances.
Upon receiving the tip-off, a security team from Keiyo South, led by the Sub-County Police Commander and the OCS, laid a roadblock at Metkei, intercepting the vehicle, which was travelling from Eldoret toward Eldama Ravine.
“When the vehicle was stopped, officers discovered a large consignment of cannabis sativa haul consisted of seven large bags of the drug.” Kosgei noted.
PHOTO/Elias Kiplimo.
Police further confirmed that the driver was taken into custody, whereupon interrogation, he revealed that the consignment originated in Busia and was destined for Nairobi.
“The officers acted immediately upon receiving the information. We have now engaged the services of the Anti-Narcotics Unit from Eldoret to assist with the investigation,” Kosgei said.
Following a formal evaluation, the seven bags were found to weigh a total of 266.2 kilograms, with an estimated street value of Ksh13,310,000.
“This is a massive amount of drugs that would have caused significant harm if it had reached the streets and been sold to our people,” Kosgei remarked.
Kosgei noted that the Eldama Ravine–Metkei–Eldoret route has increasingly been used by traffickers for both drugs and human trafficking.
“We have tightened our surveillance systems. The County and Sub-County Security Committees are working together along the Eldoret-Eldama Ravine route,” he said. “Anyone thinking they can use this route, or what they consider ‘Panya routes’ (illegal bypasses) like the Iten–Baringo road via Tambach, does so at their own peril. We have officers on the ground everywhere.”
Expressing his concern over the rising cases of substance abuse, Kosgei emphasised the importance of curbing the transportation of illegal drugs.
“It is sad that we are losing our communities to drug and alcohol abuse. If not intercepted, these drugs would have ended up with our children in primary schools, secondary schools, and higher learning institutions,” he added..
