Police in Malaba town, Busia County, have intercepted 18 kilograms of bhang and 10 litres of chang’aa, illicit substances that were reportedly being ferried to Kayole, Nairobi, from Uganda.

Confirming the incident, OCPD Teso North Joseph Matiku said they were tipped off by members of the public of three suspicious looking persons.

“At around 1pm, officers got a tip-off that there was a matatu transporting bhang and they responded swiftly and managed to intercept one matatu from Eldoret Shuttle Sacco,” said Matiku.

Upon searching of the persons’ luggage, police found 18 stones of suspected bhang and 10 litres of chang’aa.

The three — an elderly woman believed to be the peddler and two middle-aged men — that were found in possession of the bhang and chang’aa have been arrested and helping police with investigations.

This latest case comes months after the Kenya Kwanza Government intensified the fight against illicit brew and substance abuse.

The police boss said that going forward, all vehicles from Malaba will be inspected regularly to mitigate the smuggling of illicit substance that has been rampant in the region neighbouring Uganda.

“We are on high alert and we are searching each and every vehicle to ensure nothing illegal is transported through our roads. We always have a scanner on the border points but we search because of those who use other illegal entry points,” he added.