Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

Dozens of drug dealers have been arrested in a nationwide operation against illicit alcohol, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in the last three months.

The covert operation has netted several known dealers who police have said have been in the business for too long and had the protection of some rogue police officers.

The Director of Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin said the dealers are seen to be the main players in the sale and distribution of the narcotics in various parts of the city and the larger cosmopolitan area. “We have made good progress in the ongoing nationwide enforcement program against illicit alcohol, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. We will not stop,” he said.

Amin said Kenyans were concerned over the drug menace especially in the Coast region and Nairobi.

According to the detectives, drug dens are being run as safe havens for peddlers and users to come in and out to access all kinds of substances including illicit brews, marijuana, crack cocaine and heroin.
One of the suspects arrested in the operation was one nicknamed Shosh wa Madre who operates in Githurai and Majengo areas of Kasarani.

Shosh wa Madre whose real name is Ruth Wamboi Maina, 65 was arrested on March 18, 2024 at her Wachamka shop packaging injectable of heroin, and was also found with other assorted drug consignments that she was preparing to deliver and for use at her joint, which is also common for illicit brew such as muratina and chang’aa.

She was arraigned before Kahawa law courts on February, 20 2024 and is being held in custody pending hearing of her bail application.

On March 15, 2024 DCI officers raided a den in the Ongata Rongai area being run and controlled by women, and used to distribute drugs to students of nearby universities, police said.

The officers who conducted a raid in the area found an elderly woman aged 63 years who had been operating a drug hideout in the area of Kware, Ongata Rongai.

She, together with other dealers in drugs from Migori and Busia and enjoy police protection along the border points all the way to Rongai where they are also untouchable, police say.

The woman has another ongoing drug related case before the Ngong Law Courts where she was charged with the offence of trafficking in narcotics drugs.

Another Kenyan identified as Eddy Owino and Janeth Israel Masaki, a Tanzanian, were arrested while assisting them to package drugs for further distribution.

The suspects were arraigned before JKIA Law Courts on March 20, 2024 and are awaiting the next mention date of April 2, 2024, according to police records.

DCI officers are also trailing a notorious drug trafficker who fled a scene of crime in Mwiki area on March 14, 2024.

The officers are searching for one ‘Cena’ who fled his hideout known as ‘Kuku Kienyeji’ in Mwiki. The officers recovered drugs including cannabis and other yet to be established substances.

Amin said the DCI, in an effort to intercept smugglers of contraband goods, aliens and drugs coming in and out of the counties and major towns have mounted hidden strategic roadblocks.

These roadblocks are aimed at nabbing culprits involved in smuggling of illegal aliens who are often trafficked from Northern parts of Kenya and drugs coming in from the Western, Coast, and Northern parts of the country.

In a recent attempt by some notorious drug traffickers who tried to bribe their way through a roadblock were caught by surprise when it was not business as usual in Nyamira when officers intercepted a white Nissan Tiida.

The officers were acting on a tip off from Isebania where the drugs had originated from.
Aboard the vehicle were two occupants who had intended to deliver the drugs to a drug dealer based in Isinya area of Kajiado.

This led Anti Narcotics Unit (ANU) officers to Kajiado to arrest the woman on March 19, 2024 within Majengo area of Isinya alongside her drug business partner.

The police recovered over 50 kilograms of bhang packaged in sugar gunny bags. They were arraigned before JKIA Law Courts awaiting bond determination on April 2.