Police seize 11kg of cannabis in Moyale roadblock bust
By Kenneth Mwenda, May 2, 2026Police officers in Moyale intercepted narcotics hidden in a lorry at the Odda Roadblock, the National Police Service (NPS) has said.
In a statement shared on Saturday, May 2, 2026, the service said officers carried out the operation on Friday, May 1, 2026, after receiving intelligence reports.
According to the police, officers stopped a Mitsubishi FH lorry during the operation.
They said the vehicle was transporting goods presented as food supplies.
After searching the lorry, officers found a white sack hidden beneath the produce. Inside the sack, they recovered suspected cannabis sativa weighing 11 kilogrammes.
“In a well-coordinated, intelligence-led operation, the team intercepted a Mitsubishi FH lorry at the Odda Roadblock,” the statement reads.
“Upon conducting a thorough search, the officers discovered a white sack containing suspected Cannabis sativa, weighing 11kg, concealed beneath the produce.”
Police said the driver was arrested at the scene.
The person of interest was later taken to the police station and placed in custody as officers prepared to process the case and arraign him in court.
Authorities also detained the lorry as part of the investigation.
The National Police Service said the interception followed a well-coordinated and intelligence-led operation by officers based in Moyale.
Police did not disclose where the drugs were headed or whether more persons of interest were being pursued.
The seizure adds to recent anti-narcotics operations carried out in different parts of the country as security agencies continue efforts to break drug trafficking networks.
The service said the latest operation shows its continued commitment to dealing with the illegal drug trade across the country.
Police also asked members of the public to report suspicious activity through the nearest police station or official emergency channels.
Concern over drug trafficking
Security agencies have repeatedly warned that traffickers often use ordinary cargo vehicles to move banned substances while trying to avoid detection.
Roadblocks and intelligence-based searches have remained key tools in stopping such movements.
Moyale, which sits near the Kenya-Ethiopia border, is an important transport route used by cargo vehicles travelling between the two countries and other parts of the region.
Police have increased surveillance in border towns and major highways as part of efforts to curb smuggling and organised crime.
The recovered substance will likely undergo analysis to confirm its composition before the matter proceeds in court.
If confirmed, investigators are expected to use the exhibits as evidence during prosecution.
The person remains in custody pending arraignment.
Police have not yet released the identity of the driver or further details on possible accomplices.
The National Police Service said it will continue operations targeting traffickers and others involved in the supply of illegal drugs.