On the morning of Tuesday 15 August 2023, a multi-agency police team raided a store in the Kariowa slums of Ngara, Nairobi, where officers believed narcotics were being repackaged for distribution in the city.[1][2] The operation brought together the Transnational Organised Crime Unit and the Anti-Narcotics Unit of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).[1][2]
The National Police Service said officers recovered 26 bags of cannabis sativa, four cartons of rolling materials, 173 units of suspected blended drugs known as bhang, and 42 cartons holding 200 cigarettes each.[2] Officers also found Ksh12,975,000 in cash hidden under a mattress in one of the rooms, which DCI boss Mohamed Amin said would be treated as proceeds of the crime.[1][2] The bhang had arrived in the city from the western part of the country, according to the police.[1]
Four people were taken into custody: Eugene Jumba, Hillary Jumbo, Sheila Withers and Teresa Wanjiru.[2] The store was owned by a known drug trafficker who was not present during the raid.[1] The Anti-Narcotics Unit took over the investigation, and one account said the suspects were expected in court the next day.[1][2]
