Police officers in Kilifi have intercepted a haul of suspected narcotic drugs in the region.

The National Police Service (NPS) in a statement issued on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, said the consignment was intercepted by its officers during a routine security operation at the Sabaki Bridge checkpoint on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

According to NPS, the officers flagged down a motor vehicle, and upon conducting a thorough search of the vehicle’s cargo area, they discovered a sack that had been cleverly hidden between sacks of rice that were being transported.

The sack, police say, contained numerous rolls of dry plant material wrapped in khaki paper, suspected to be cannabis (‘bhang’), hidden beneath the food supplies.

“On 7th March 2026, police officers successfully intercepted a significant haul of suspected narcotic drugs during a routine security operation at the Sabaki Bridge checkpoint,” the NPS stated.

“The officers flagged down a motor vehicle and, upon conducting a thorough search of the vehicle’s cargo area—which was ostensibly transporting bags of rice—discovered a sack containing numerous rolls of dry plant material wrapped in khaki paper, suspected to be cannabis (‘bhang’), hidden beneath the food supplies.”

Driver arrested

Following the interception, the driver of the vehicle was arrested and escorted to Malindi Police Station.

The vehicle and the consignment were also detained as exhibits.

“The driver of the vehicle was arrested and escorted to Malindi Police Station, where he was placed in custody awaiting further police processing. The vehicle and the exhibits were also securely detained at the same station,” the statement read.

“The National Police Service remains committed to heightening surveillance on all major transit routes to curb the trafficking of illegal substances nationwide.”

Crackdown on drug trafficking

The NPS has, in the recent past, intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking.

Early this month, police raided a drug den in Kitui County, recovering a large consignment of bhang and arresting a person of interest.

In a statement shared on X on Friday, April 3, 2026, police stated that the operation was triggered by intelligence from members of the public, leading to a coordinated multi-agency response targeting an area believed to be a drug packaging site in the Ngiini area.

“Acting on a tip-off, officers from Kitui Police Station, in a joint operation with officials from the NACADA, Nairobi Headquarters, yesterday, 2nd April 2026, successfully raided a drug packaging den in the Ngiini area near Kitui Town,” the statement reads.