Police impound bhang worth Sh100,000 in Mandera town

Rolls of bhang seized on April 23, 2017 by police in Mandera town. Three suspects were arrested. PHOTO | MANASE OTSIALO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Confirming the seize, Mandera East acting OCPD Timothy Muasya said three suspects were already in police custody and that they will be charged in a court of law.
  • Mr Muasya said information had been shared earlier in the day that some people were packaging bhang ready for the market at Bula Busley on the outskirts of the town.

Police in Mandera on Sunday evening managed to track and seize bhang with a street value of Sh100,000.

Confirming the seize, Mandera East acting OCPD Timothy Muasya said three suspects were already in police custody and that they will be charged in a court of law.

“Our officers, acting on a tip off from members of the public managed to track and nab three suspects in possession of 25 kilogrammes of bhang and 25 rolls all valued at Sh100,000,” said Mr Muasya.

He said the cash was found hidden in three different houses within Bula Busley estate.

According to Mr Muasya, the suspects were in the process of packaging their product when they were arrested and 25 rolls were ready for the market.

“This is the biggest cannabis package nabbed in the recent past within Mandera and we appeal to members of the public to volunteer information to our officers so that we can clean up the town,” he said.

PLASTIC BAGS

Mr Muasya said information had been shared earlier in the day that some people were packaging bhang ready for the market at Bula Busley on the outskirts of the town.

He said the origin of the drug, packed in five different plastic bags was yet to be established.

“We can’t exactly tell where the drug came from but once investigations are concluded then we will know its origin,” he said.

Meru region and Ethiopia are the most potential areas supplying bhang to Mandera according to reliable sources within the police unit.

Vehicles transporting miraa from as far as Maua are said to be supplying bhang to Mandera.

“We are having many inroads into Mandera starting with Moyale, Garissa and many others making it difficult to know where bhang is coming in from,” said Mr Muasya.

CRACKDOWN

The acting police boss commended members of public for a job well done, appealing for more cooperation arguing that a sizeable population of the youths in Mandera was using cannabis thus raising the need for eradication.

“Most youths in this town use bhang that comes in from places we don’t know but we are up to the task and no stone shall be left unturned as we roll out the cleaning exercise,” said Mr Muasya.

When smoked, bhang induces psychosis leading to grandiosity, excitement, hostility, uncooperativeness, disorientation and hallucinations.

Several users and researchers argue that the ‘feel good’ sensation stems from the fact that cannabis is capable of putting users into a trance.