Police have arrested a 45-year-old woman after detectives intercepted a long-distance passenger bus and recovered a large consignment of cannabis sativa that had been hidden beneath sacks of bananas.
The operation was carried out by detectives from the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) based in the Coast Region, working together with officers from Mariakani Police Station.
The arrest followed intelligence reports that a suspected shipment of illegal drugs was being transported on a bus travelling to the Coast.
According to police, officers acted on the information and mounted a targeted operation at the Mariakani Weighbridge.
They stopped a Tahmeed bus that was travelling from Busia to Mombasa and carried out a detailed search of the vehicle.
During the inspection, detectives discovered five gunny bags containing cannabis sativa.
The bags had been carefully concealed beneath a consignment of bananas, an apparent attempt to avoid attracting attention during transportation.After further investigations at the scene, officers established that the recovered package belonged to Evelyn Atieno Ochola, 45. She was immediately arrested and taken into police custody for further processing.
Police said the suspect remains in custody and is expected to be arraigned in court once the necessary procedures are completed.
The recovered cannabis has been detained as evidence while detectives continue with investigations.
Officers are now working to establish where the drugs originated from, where they were being transported, and whether other people were involved in the suspected trafficking operation.
Authorities believe the investigation will help uncover any wider network that may have been involved in moving the illegal consignment across the country. Detectives are also reviewing available evidence to determine if additional arrests will be made as the investigation progresses.
The latest seizure highlights the continued efforts by anti-narcotics officers to disrupt the movement of illegal drugs through major transport routes.
Police have maintained that intelligence-led operations remain an important part of efforts to combat drug trafficking and bring those involved to justice.
Investigators have urged members of the public to continue sharing information that could help law enforcement agencies identify and stop criminal activities.
They said public cooperation plays a key role in supporting successful operations and ensuring that those involved in the illegal drug trade are held accountable under the law.
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