A suspected drug trafficking operation in Bungoma ended in tragedy after a vehicle carrying cannabis collided with a motorcycle along the Malaba-Webuye road, killing the rider.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said detectives recovered 170.8 kilograms of cannabis from a white Mazda CX-5, registration number KDY 338F, following an intelligence-led operation conducted by officers from the National Anti-Narcotics Investigations Bureau (NANIB), Bungoma, in collaboration with DCI Webuye West.
According to the DCI, the detectives had received credible intelligence that the vehicle was being used to transport narcotic drugs.
They subsequently laid an ambush along the Malaba-Webuye road to intercept it.When the Mazda appeared, the driver reportedly noticed the detectives and sped off, prompting officers to pursue the vehicle.
The chase ended in a fatal accident after the Mazda collided with a red TVS motorcycle, registration number KMFV 109F.
The motorcycle rider, identified as Muzungu Munialo, sustained fatal injuries in the crash.The driver of the Mazda abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene, leaving detectives to continue with investigations into the incident.
Traffic officers first processed the accident scene before detectives searched the abandoned vehicle.
The initial search revealed suspected narcotic substances inside the Mazda, prompting officers to tow it to the police station for a more comprehensive examination.
A detailed search at the station led to the recovery of 162 bales of cannabis wrapped in yellow cellotape.
The drugs weighed 170.8 kilograms and were estimated to have a street value of Ksh5,124,000.Detectives also recovered a second number plate, registration number KF2 8588, from the back seat of the vehicle.
Investigators suspect the additional plate may have been intended to conceal the vehicle’s identity during the suspected drug transportation operation.
The Mazda CX-5 and the recovered narcotics have since been handed over to NANIB Bungoma for further investigations.
Meanwhile, the DCI expressed condolences to Munialo’s family, friends and relatives following his death in the accident.
The agency said detectives were pursuing the driver who escaped from the scene, adding that efforts were underway to establish his whereabouts and bring him to justice.
Investigators are also seeking to establish whether other individuals were involved in the suspected drug trafficking operation and uncover the wider network behind the transportation of the narcotics.
The recovery comes amid ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat the trafficking and distribution of illegal drugs in the country.
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