By RENSON MNYAMWEZI

Police have recovered eight bags of bhang from a government vehicle in Taita-Taveta County.

The consignment which was impounded at Maktau police roadblock along the Taveta-Mwatate road yesterday was being transported from Taveta to an unknown destination.

Police acting on a tip-off stopped the vehicle and on inspecting it found the bhang stuffed in gunny bags.

A senior National Intelligence Service (NIS) officer  revealed that the bhang was being escorted by four administration police (APs) officers.

It has not been confirmed whether the APs were arrested over the incident. There are growing concerns that traffickers are colluding with security personnel to traffic drugs, among other contraband products.

The NSIS official said the bhang and the GK Land Rover, which is assigned to a deputy County Commissioner were taken to Voi Police Divisional headquarters and investigations launched.

The incident brings to 18 the number of bags of bhang so far recovered in region in the past two days.

Street value

On Monday, police arrested two suspected drug traffickers and recovered 10 bags of cannabis with a street value of more than Sh600,000 at the police road block.

The County Police Commander Richard Bitonga confirmed the incident and said the matter was being handled by the County Criminal Investigations Officer (CID).

 “Information has reached my office that a government vehicle has been impounded in connection with trafficking eight bags of bhang. The matter is being investigated by the CID,” he said.

“Police are following up the matter and we will give you more details once we are through with our investigations,” Mr Bitonga told The Standard yesterday.

Last month police recovered more than 15 bags of bhang with a street value of about Sh2 million abandoned in a house on the outskirts of Mwatate town.

The incident comes at a time when the government is still grappling with widespread drug and substance abuse in Coast Province. “Cases of transportation of bhang from Tanzania to Kenya through the porous border are on the increase. We’ve intensified patrols and alertness to tame the menace,” said Bitonga.

Payroll

“We’re doing our level best to keep the vice at bay. Drug abuse among the youth has become a thorn in the flesh of society and everything possible should be done to rid the region of the threat,” said the police boss.

An MP has accused the police and provincial administration officials of frustrating the war against drugs and illicit brews in the region.

Wundanyi MP Thomas Mwadeghu claimed that some unscrupulous security personnel were colluding with drug and cheap liquor dealers to support the vices.

Speaking at a leaders meeting in Voi town, the MP claimed some security personnel were on the payroll of brewers and drug peddlers. “Police and provincial administration should strive to eradicate vices that are detrimental to development. They should be active to solve the drug abuse problem in the region,” he said.

Recently, the National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse said bhang was the most abused drug in the region.