A routine border screening operation at Malaba has led to the discovery of cocaine worth an estimated Sh2.19 million aboard a bus travelling from Kampala to Nairobi. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) says one person has been arrested, while the driver and conductor are being pursued after allegedly leaving the vehicle when officers moved to inspect a suspicious parcel.
Highlights
- Detectives recovered cocaine valued at approximately Sh2.19 million at Malaba One-Stop Border Post.
- The substance weighed 547.99 grammes and was packed into eight pellets.
- One bus turn boy was arrested as investigations got underway.
- The driver and conductor reportedly left the scene and are being sought.
- The bus was detained as arrangements were made to transport stranded passengers.
Main Story
Suspicious Parcel Leads to Cocaine Discovery
Detectives have intercepted a cocaine consignment worth approximately Sh2.19 million during passenger and luggage checks at the Malaba One-Stop Border Post.
According to the DCI, the discovery was made aboard a passenger bus travelling from Kampala, Uganda, to Nairobi, Kenya. Officers reportedly noticed an unattended parcel that appeared suspicious during the routine screening process.
The parcel was subsequently subjected to further examination, leading to the discovery of a substance that preliminary tests identified as cocaine.
Bus Crew Leaves the Scene
The operation took an unexpected turn when the bus driver and conductor reportedly left the scene, abandoning the vehicle and the passengers on board.
Detectives attached to the National Anti-Narcotics Investigations Bureau (NANIB) in Malaba took charge of the suspected drugs for further processing.
The DCI reported that the cocaine had been divided into eight pellets with a combined weight of 547.99 grammes. Investigators placed the estimated street value of the consignment at Sh2,191,960.
One Arrested as Detectives Pursue Leads
As investigations continued, detectives arrested the bus turn boy over his alleged connection to the incident.
The driver and conductor remain the focus of a search as investigators work to establish how the drugs ended up on the bus and determine whether other individuals were involved.
Authorities have not disclosed further details about the arrested suspect or confirmed whether additional arrests have been made.
Passengers Affected by Border Operation
The bus remained at the border post following the interception, with its management expected to organise alternative transport for the affected passengers.
The incident highlights the challenges facing security agencies as they seek to curb the movement of illegal drugs through public transport networks and cross-border routes.
Through NANIB, the DCI says it continues to target suspected narcotics trafficking networks operating along these routes.
Investigations remain ongoing as detectives seek to establish the origin of the consignment, how it was transported and who was responsible for it.
With one suspect in custody and two members of the bus crew reportedly being sought, the investigation now turns to a crucial question: who was behind the cocaine consignment, and how far does the trail go?
