A 54-year-old man was arrested on Saturday after anti-narcotics officers intercepted a public service vehicle along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway and discovered cannabis and a large amount of foreign currency in his possession.
According to a statement by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the arrest followed an intelligence-led operation by the Mombasa Anti-Narcotics Unit. Acting on a tip-off, detectives stopped a Nissan matatu in the Jomvu area, where a search led to the apprehension of the suspect, identified as Michael Chacha. His luggage had raised suspicion among officers.
Inside three bags belonging to Chacha, investigators found 40 sachets of cannabis sativa, KSh4,960 in local currency, and over five million Tanzanian shillings—equivalent to approximately KSh250,000.
“The intelligence-led operation was a timely disruption of drug trafficking efforts along one of the country’s busiest transport corridors,” the DCI noted.
The suspect is currently being held at the Port Police Station as authorities finalize charges related to drug possession and trafficking.
This arrest underscores the persistent threat posed by cross-border narcotics operations, particularly along major highways that serve as conduits for trafficking. It also highlights the growing collaboration among regional enforcement units in combating the drug menace, especially within the coastal region, which has seen a recent surge in anti-narcotics crackdowns.
