Police in Kisii on Saturday intercepted a matatu and seized 14 sacks of marijuana.
While confirming the incident, Acting Kisii Central OCPD Kazungu Charo stated that the vehicle transporting the bhang was headed to Keroka before it was intercepted.
Police gave a chase after suspecting suspicious activity, however, the driver managed to escape on foot after landing the matatu into a ditch when he tried to dodge the officers.
“We intercepted the vehicle which was being driven suspiciously. The officers gave chase and upon realizing this, the driver diverted it to a feeder road in Kegati where he eventually lost control, landing into a ditch,” Charo said.
Upon inspection of the vehicle, police found 14 sacks of bhang, the officers impounded the illegal goods and the vehicle.
A manhunt has since been launched for the suspect who is still at large.
Similar incident
The latest comes weeks after two suspects caught transporting bhang worth Ksh9 million were arrested in Migori county.
The two, Daniel Okoth and Erick Ombima were caught transporting the illegal goods using a Land Cruiser.
The duo is said to have plotted to ferry the drugs through the Nyametaburo route towards the Isebania-Migori highway but were caught as they attempted to dodge a police roadblock near the Karamu Bridge area.
“From Toyota Kenya’s description, the elegance of Land Cruiser Prado, sleek shape and its imposing grille affirm its powerful and statutory image. Maybe, it’s this magnificent description of the machine that convinced Daniel Okoth and Erick Ombima that they had the perfect vehicle to sneak 300kg of Marijuana into the country from one of our neighbours. Unbeknownst to them, no level of elegance could beat police intelligence networks. In the company of two men, Daniel Okoth was entrusted to chauffeur Sh9 million worth of the banned substance to Kenya through Nyametaburo route and later join Isebania – Migori highway at Mabera,” a statement by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) read in part.
Adding;
“Bumping into a police roadblock that provided a safe distance to pull over for a search, the driver opted to drive past the officers nearly running over one of them. But with their 40th day at night, three well-calculated rapid shots from an AK47 benumbed his accelerator foot, prematurely terminating their journey. During the rumpus, one male occupant scampered off like a terrified rat into the thickets, but Okoth, Obima and their drug haul stuffed in the KCL 532E Prado were rounded up. The prohibited cargo numbered 6 gunny bags.”
