Police burn bhang worth Ksh.4.5 million in Isiolo

Authorities in Isiolo County on Tuesday destroyed over 150 kilograms of bhang with a street value of approximately Ksh.4.5 million.

The consignment was nabbed three years ago but the case was only recently concluded and the suspect in whose possession it was found convicted and jailed for 15 years.

The bhang was set ablaze in a brief ceremony witnessed by Isiolo Law Courts Chief Magistrate Samuel Mungai, County Commissioner Herman Shambi, County Police Commander Joseph Kigen and officials from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

According to Mr. Shambi, the move to destroy the bhang in full glare of cameras was aimed at silencing doubters who had alleged that the drugs would eventually find their way back to the hands of barons.

He assured members of the public that other consignments confiscated recently will also be destroyed in a similar manner once the ongoing court cases are concluded.

Isiolo has in the recent months attracted focus as far as the war against drugs is concerned following numerous incidences where vehicles ferrying bhang from the county to other parts of the country have been nabbed.

The national government a few weeks ago deployed an elite squad of anti-narcotics and anti-terror police to Isiolo to deal with drug trafficking and recruitment of local youth into organized crime.