Repeat Drug Trafficker Nabbed, Sh4 Million Bhang Seized in Ahero Raids

Rolls of cannabis recovered during a NACADA-led pre-dawn operation in Ahero, Kisumu County. / handout. Authorities have arrested a repeat cannabis trafficking suspect and seized bhang valued at more than Sh4 million following coordinated pre-dawn operations by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) in Ahero, Kisumu County. In one raid, officers stormed a homestead where they arrested a woman identified by NACADA as a longtime trafficker. According to NACADA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Anthony Omerikwa, the suspect is a known figure who has remained under close surveillance. She was found with a large quantity of cannabis packaged in the form of twigs, tarrifs (packets), and brooms. The arrest comes barely days after the suspect was released on bond, following an earlier arrest during the Jukwaa la Usalama initiative last year, when she was found in possession of cannabis valued at nearly Sh10 million. NACADA said she has active drug trafficking cases pending before the courts. “This individual epitomises the persistent challenge we face. Her swift re-arrest demonstrates our relentless pursuit,” said Dr. Omerikwa. “As directed by the President in the renewed fight against drug abuse, her property will now be subjected to the full asset forfeiture process. We are sending an unequivocal message.” Cannabis concealed in a metal box recovered by NACADA officers in Kisumu County. / handout In a parallel operation, NACADA officers raided a suspected drug den located directly opposite the main entrance of Ahero Girls’ High School, where they recovered several packets of cannabis. The discovery raised alarm among education stakeholders and community members due to the location’s proximity to a learning institution. “The discovery of narcotics being peddled directly across from a school is a clear indication of the brazen nature of those in this illicit trade,” Dr. Omerikwa said. “They have now taken their operations to the doorstep of our learning institutions. The Authority will pursue all of them and ensure our learning spaces are free from this menace.” The school administration welcomed the crackdown, saying the suspected drug den had long posed a risk to students. A senior school official, who requested anonymity, said the operation had brought relief to the institution. “This den has posed a great danger to our learners for too long,” the official said. “The proximity was terrifying, especially when national surveys show the age of initiation to drug use is now as low as seven years. We are protecting children from a predator at the gate.” NACADA said the twin raids are part of an intensified intelligence-led enforcement strategy aimed at dismantling drug networks, protecting vulnerable populations, and pursuing asset forfeiture against traffickers. The authority reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the crackdown as part of the wider national campaign against drug and substance abuse.