Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) detectives stationed at the Coast region on Saturday arrested a suspected drug trafficker and seized cannabis sativa worth over Ksh 11 million.
Acting on a tip-off by area residents on Saturday, the sleuths conducted a sting operation along the Samburu-Kinango Road when they intercepted a heavily laden Toyota at the Mdomo Centre in Kwale County.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the search conducted by the detectives in the vehicle yielded seven green gunny sacks containing stashed drugs allegedly being trafficked to an unknown destination.
"Seven green gunny sacks containing long khaki rolls of marijuana weighing 389.45 kgs with an estimated street value of Ksh 11,683,500."
Upon realizing they had been made, one of the suspects jumped out of the moving vehicle and run towards a thicket.
Another suspect, in the same vehicle was however cornered and arrested by the sleuths while trying to escape.
The suspect was subsequently detained at the Mombasa Urban Police Station awaiting to be arraigned in court on Monday.
DCI stated that the exhibits would facilitate investigations into the matter to establish where the drugs were being trafficked and the suspects behind the operation.
This comes even as Coast leaders have been voicing their concerns over increased cases of drug trafficking in the coastal region.
A recent report released by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA) in June revealed a spike in the use of drugs within the country.
The report showed a prevalence in drug usage among university students aged between 18 to 24 years.
According to NACADA, more than half of the youth (596,336 out of 1,137,288) were abusing drugs and substances.
