Police net suspected narcotics after dramatic chase in Busia
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, April 18, 2026Police officers from Malaba Police Station in Teso North Sub-County have recovered suspected narcotic drugs during a routine patrol along the Malaba–Uganda Road in Busia County.
Taking it to their X handle on Saturday, April 18, 2026, the National Police Service (NPS) confirmed that the officers, when on patrol outside certain bus offices, met a suspicious person who had two black bags. When the officers spotted him, the man left the bags and ran away.
“Police officers from Malaba Police Station in Teso North Sub-County have recovered suspected narcotic drugs during a routine patrol along the Malaba–Uganda Road. The officers…encountered a suspicious individual carrying two black bags. Upon noticing the officers, the individual abandoned the bags and fled the scene,” the NPS statement read in part.
According to the NPS, the bags were searched, with the result being the discovery of nineteen packages of suspected cannabis sativa. The exhibits are now under lock and key, and investigations are being initiated to trace and arrest the suspect.
At the border, NPS has further said that security patrol efforts have been stepped up as cross-border crime-combating efforts are ongoing.
The service has called on citizens to be on high alert and report any suspicious cases to the nearest police station or via emergency numbers.
Combating drug trafficking along borderline
The officials have observed that Malaba and the Busia border region are still strategic points in combating drug trafficking because of their closeness to the Uganda-Kenya border. There has been increased surveillance and interaction of security agencies on both sides of the border to break the network of criminals who take advantage of cross-border routes.
The police have reiterated that they would step up patrols and intelligence-based operations in the area to stem the proliferation of illegal drugs. They have also called upon the people to cooperate with the police by giving them timely information, which can help in the identification and arrest of drug-related crime suspects. The National Police Service pointed out that community involvement is still very important in the improvement of security and protection of the communities along the borders against criminal activities.
This exercise is indicative of continuous measures to enhance national security and to make sure that drug trafficking rings are broken down along the key transportation routes in western Kenya. The government has pledged to continue cracking down on those committing acts within the border area in the future.