A video surfaced on Wednesday, June 24 of police uncovering marijuana hidden in a 6-kilogram gas cylinder that was tightly welded in a manner suggesting an ulterior motive.
Police then called in a welder who managed to cut through the green cylinder so as to confirm their suspicion of an illegal substance.
In the video, onlookers were heard talking about the offender's criminal enterprise. They were left in shock after the top part of the cylinder was cut open.
The cylinder was filled to the brim with marijuana, a pointer to the innovative tactics employed by criminals to dodge law enforcement officers.
The marijuana, whose street value is estimated to be close to Ksh100,000, was wrapped in cloth and packed into the cylinder which was then re-sealed.
The viral video emerged in the middle of a crackdown by the police on smuggling, organized crime and drug trafficking.
Earlier in June, elite Anti-Narcotics and Antii-Terrorism police units were deployed to Isiolo as part of the operation to shut down smuggling routes from Ethiopia. A lot of marijuana in the country comes into Kenya through Ethiopia.
They particularly noted the surge in smuggling of marijuana through Garbatulla and Merti sub-counties and urged members of the public to work with them to bring down drug barons.
On Tuesday, June 23, authorities in Isiolo County set on fire marijuana worth Ksh4.5 million in a show of commitment to the renewed push against drug trafficking.
Among those who witnessed the ceremony were officials from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Isiolo Law Courts Chief Magistrate Samuel Mungai, County Commissioner Herman Shambi and County Police Commander Joseph Kigen.
The torched consignment of drugs was seized in an operation in 2017, but the case was only concluded recently with the offender sentenced to 15 years for possession.
The officials stated that they made the decision to burn the marijuana in front of the cameras to show their determination to decisively deal with the issue.
County Commissioner Herman Shambi stated that it was also meant to shut down allegations that the nabbed consignment would end up in the wrong hands.
