A routine inspection at Sabaki Bridge in Malindi has exposed a clever drug smuggling attempt involving a passenger bus bound for Lamu.
The operation, led by a multi-agency security team, turned dramatic after officers uncovered cannabis concealed in everyday luggage.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the bus, registration number KDN 368W and operated by Tawakal Bus Service, had left Nairobi for Lamu when it was stopped for a standard check.
What appeared to be ordinary travel bags and bundles of second-hand clothes turned out to be the cover for two large bales of cannabis sativa.
Detectives said the narcotics were hidden in a way that made them blend seamlessly with other luggage, suggesting a well-thought-out plan.
However, the operation took an unexpected twist when one passenger, believed to be behind the smuggling, bolted from the scene before officers could react.
The bus driver and conductor were detained for questioning as police intensified a manhunt for the suspect who escaped.
The seized drugs have been secured as evidence as investigations continue.
Police say the incident is part of a worrying trend in which public transport vehicles are being used to ferry narcotics along coastal routes.
The Sabaki Bridge checkpoint has in recent months become a critical interception point for illicit goods moving between Nairobi and the Coast.
Authorities have urged bus companies and crew to exercise vigilance and report any suspicious passengers or luggage to help curb the use of public transport in drug trafficking.
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