Kenya: Bungoma Drug Bust - 170kg Cannabis Seized After Suspect Flees Fatal Crash

What the report says

Kenyan detectives said they recovered 170.8 kilogrammes of cannabis after a suspected trafficker abandoned a vehicle following a crash on the Malaba-Webuye highway in Bungoma County. The report, carried by Capital FM and distributed by AllAfrica, said the drugs were found after officers from the National Anti-Narcotics Investigations Bureau and DCI Webuye West intercepted a white Mazda CX-5 that had been flagged through intelligence.

According to the account, the driver fled when the vehicle was approached, leading to a chase that ended in a collision with a motorcycle. The motorcyclist, identified in the report as Muzungu Munialo, died from the crash. The Mazda driver escaped, and police later towed the vehicle for examination.

A search of the car allegedly uncovered 162 bales of cannabis wrapped in yellow tape, with an estimated street value of about Sh5.1 million. Officers also found an extra number plate, which investigators believe may have been intended to help conceal the vehicle’s identity. The seized narcotics and vehicle were handed to anti-narcotics investigators for further inquiry.

The case highlights ongoing Kenyan efforts to disrupt drug trafficking routes, particularly along transport corridors used to move contraband between border and interior regions. Police said they are still pursuing the driver and examining the wider network behind the suspected smuggling operation.