In a major operation targeting drug trafficking, police officers in Kitui County on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, recovered 12 bundles of bhang concealed in a sack.

The raid, conducted in collaboration with National Government Administration Officers, followed intelligence shared by members of the public.

The crackdown was executed by officers from Kyatune Police Post, who stormed the home of a person of interest in Malana village, Kyatune location. The operation resulted in the arrest of the suspect, who is now in custody awaiting processing and arraignment.

Intelligence-led operation

The National Police Service (NPS) said the successful recovery was a direct outcome of actionable information from vigilant residents. In a statement, NPS commended the public’s role in providing timely tips that continue to aid in dismantling drug networks across the country.

“National Police Service officers from Kyatune Police Post, in collaboration with National Government Administration Officers, today, 19th August 2025, acted on information from members of the public and raided the home of a well-known drug trafficker within Malana village, Kyatune location,” the statement read.

The exhibit has since been secured at Kyatune Police Post as investigations continue. Authorities noted that community intelligence remains one of the most effective tools in fighting narcotics, which remain a challenge in both rural and urban areas.

Sustained fight against narcotics

The seizure comes at a time when police have intensified operations in regions notorious for cannabis cultivation and distribution, including the Mount Kenya region and parts of the coastal belt. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, 1994, prescribes heavy penalties for offenders, but trafficking has persisted, often driven by poverty and peer pressure among the youth.

Officials said the fight requires a sustained, multi-agency approach and constant public vigilance. The person of interest’s arrest, they added, was an example of what can be achieved when law enforcement works hand in hand with communities.

“Drug abuse has severe social and economic consequences. The community must play its part in ensuring traffickers have no room to operate,” NPS added.

The person of interest remains in custody as police finalise investigations before arraignment.