Police at the Sabaki River Bridge in Malindi, Kilifi County, have uncovered a stash of cannabis after intercepting a Lamu-bound bus.
According to a police report, the bus, registration KDN 368W and operated by Tawakal Bus Service, was on a routine trip from Nairobi when officers flagged it down for inspection.
“What seemed like ordinary luggage turned out to be two bulky bales of cannabis sativa cleverly concealed among bundles of second-hand clothes,” said the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in a post on Sunday, October 5, 2025.
Police say a passenger, believed to be the owner of the said narcotics, escaped as they zeroed in on the suspicious cargo.
The bus driver and conductor were arrested on the spot and taken into custody for questioning as the manhunt for the fleeing suspect intensified.
The seized narcotics were detained as exhibits in the ongoing investigations.
The seizure comes a day after a Kenyan woman, Anna Nekesa Kisaka, was stopped at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) while attempting to smuggle cocaine to Dubai, in what police described as a dangerous internal concealment attempt.
The 41-year-old was arrested shortly before boarding after routine screening raised suspicions, according to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Detectives from the Anti-Narcotics Unit carried out further checks and discovered that the suspect had ingested narcotics. Under medical supervision, she later excreted three cocaine pellets, and authorities believe additional drugs may remain inside her. She is being closely monitored as the investigation continues.
The DCI in a statement on Saturday said the case underscores the serious health risks of “body packing,” a method traffickers use to evade airport security.
Experts have warned that this practice can result in intestinal rupture or fatal overdose.