A crackdown against drugs and substance abuse by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), especially bhang in the last six months has revealed new tactics traffickers have adopted to transport and hawk the drugs.

These include changing routes to evade arrest and growing of cannabis sativa in farms hidden under maize plantations and other crops, and packaging before it is sold in the market with some of it disguised as biscuits.

On July 24, 2026, two suspects escaped arrest before 271.3 kilogrammes of bhang with a street value of Sh13.4 million was recovered from an abandoned Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) along the Chavakakli-Kapsabet road.

On Saturday (August 1, 2026), detectives from the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) arrested a suspect in Mariakani transporting bhang from Busia to Mombasa using a public transport vehicle.

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The woman had stashed five gunny bags containing the drug disguised as bananas in the storage compartment of the vehicle that was flagged down at Mariakani weighbridge in an intelligence-led operation.

“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations reiterates its commitment to curbing the cultivation and trade of narcotics across the country. Members of the public are urged to continue sharing actionable intelligence to aid in the dismantling of the illicit drugs network,” the DCI said in a statement on Friday.

“Success in the fight against trafficking and consumption of drugs and substance, is not measured by arrests made or narcotics seized. It is measured by the quality of investigations, successful prosecution, and the permanent dismantling of criminal networks,” Mr Amin said.

The DCI is seeking to improve the capacity of its officers to deal with the crime in a more professional manner and adapt with the changing modes of operation by criminals.

“Modern narcotics syndicates have evolved into organized transnational enterprises exploiting technology and international supply chains” said Mr Amin, on Friday during the graduation of the third cohort of the Anti-Narcotics Investigations Course at the National Criminal Investigations Academy.

Cabinet Secretary for Interior Kipchumba Murkomen said the government will continuously crack down on criminals involved in trafficking of narcotics in the country, so as to ensure a drug-free society prevails.

“We will work with all stakeholders to ensure that we rid the towns, cities, streets, homes and estates of drug trafficking that has destroyed families over the years” Mr Murkomen said.

Last week, a dramatic chase in Nakuru town ended with the arrest of two suspects and impoundment of five sacks of bhang weighing 110 kilogrammes with a street value of Sh3.3 million in a Nissan Note vehicle.

The DCI crackdown has revealed the changing routes and means of transporting the stuff from Tanzania through the Sirare-Kenyan border to Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Bomet, Kericho, Nakuru, Narok, Kajiado and entry to Nairobi as dealers seek to beat police dragnets.

As a result of increased surveillance and frequent crackdowns by the various government agencies, the dealers are now resorting to use private saloon vehicles – with the Toyota Wish and the Toyota Probox models being the vehicles of choice.

Most of the drugs are sold in slums, clubs, backstreets, with others available to children in schools and colleges in what has eroded discipline and order in the society.