Police have launched a manhunt for a university graduate believed to be behind a multi-million bhang growing business at a posh home in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu county.
In a statement by the National Police Service (NPS) dated Wednesday, July 6, officers raided the home yesterday (July 5) after receiving a tip off from members of the public.
In images and videos shared by the police, the homeowner used various advanced methods to grow cannabis in parts of his house.
In some sections of the house, the graduate had installed LED lights to provide adequate lighting to the plants.
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The police estimated the cost of the marijuana plants from the house to be around Ksh1 million.
"The officers conducted a thorough search in the two buildings within the compound and recovered 21 cannabis plants in the main bedroom, 68 in the sitting room, 14 in the dining room, 26 in an adjacent iron sheet walled house and assorted personal documents," read the police statement.
During the raid, the officers also recovered personal documents which are now being used to carry out more investigations.
"All the plants were uprooted after having been documented by DCI Scenes of Crime personnel. The plants weighed 33.5 Kgs with a street value of about Ksh1 million.
"We appeal for any information that can lead to the arrest of the suspect and urge the public to desist from engaging in criminal activities," police appealed.
Further, the police cautioned Kenyans against growing and use of marijuana stating that it remains illegal in the country. DCI noted that there has been an increasing trend in the use of bhang in recent months.
The raid comes barely days after DCI detectives nabbed teenagers who were smoking the illegal substance at a joint in Migori, further cautioning the public against engaging in such vices after videos of a kid smoking bhang emerged on social media.
"As we continue to educate the public on the negative impact of abuse of illegal substances on one hand, and also as we scale up our surveillance and enforcement campaigns against drugs and illegal substances," the police stated.
