3 arrested as police seize drugs worth Ksh3.6B in Kwale

Police have apprehended three individuals and confiscated narcotics worth roughly Ksh3.6 billion in a joint operation targeting an international drug trafficking syndicate in Msambweni, Kwale County. The investigation resulted in the recovery of 454 kilograms of suspected narcotics from two locations in Msambweni Sub-County. According to a police statement issued on Sunday, November 8, 2026, the operation stemmed from intelligence that led to the arrest of a key suspect in Tanzania on November 5, 2026.

This individual was caught with suspected narcotics before being transferred to Kenyan authorities at the Lungalunga–Horohoro border point. Following the arrest, investigators targeted Shirazi Village in Kingwede Shirazi Location, where they identified the residence of a second accomplice. Subsequent leads directed the multi-agency team to Ganja La Simba Village in Kinondo Location, where they discovered the drug shipment.

A third suspect was apprehended during the search. The police statement revealed that, after a thorough investigation and interrogation, this suspect provided crucial information leading to the discovery of the second accomplice's residence. In addition to the 454 kilogrammes of suspected narcotics, authorities seized two motor vehicles and a motorcycle, believed to be linked to the operation.

The three suspects are currently in police custody, while the recovered drugs and vehicles have been preserved as evidence. The National Police Service (NPS) emphasized that the operation was part of a broader effort to combat international drug trafficking networks operating across Kenya's borders. The NPS attributed the success to intelligence-led policing and the collaboration between Kenyan and Tanzanian security agencies.

The operation was initiated following directives from Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, who has been urging officers to take decisive action against narcotic drugs, illicit alcohol, and other harmful substances through a multi-agency approach. The police service credited the operation's success to the cooperation of Tanzanian authorities, highlighting the importance of cross-border collaboration in dismantling transnational organized crime networks.

The NPS stressed that Kenya will not be used as a destination or transit route for illegal drugs. The operation is ongoing, with authorities promising further updates as investigations proceed.