Kisumu: Police in Kisumu East on Thursday evening seized over 65 kilogrammes of bhang (Cannabis Sativa) valued at more than Sh2 million. The illicit cargo, which was en route to Mombasa aboard a bus named Guardian Angel, was intercepted before it could reach its destination. A male suspect has been apprehended in connection with the haul and is currently assisting the police with their investigations.

According to Kenya News Agency, Kisumu Central Sub-County Police Commander Mr. Peter Mulai confirmed the incident, revealing that the bhang, shaped into stones, is believed to have originated from Ugunja in Siaya County. It was being sent to Mombasa as a parcel via a night bus. Acting on a tip-off, police officers swiftly moved to the Guardian Angel company offices located in the Central Business District (CBD) and discovered the narcotic concealed within two large carton boxes and three suitcases.

Cannabis, commonly known as bhang in Kenya, is classified as illegal under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, 1994. Despite its illegal status, the drug is cultivated freely in some neighboring countries, with much of the cannabis trafficked into Kenya believed to originate from these regions. The country's porous borders and weak legal system have rendered it a hotspot for traffickers, posing significant health risks to millions of Kenyans, particularly the youth.

Data from the National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) highlights that alcohol and cannabis sativa are the most abused substances in Kenya. A NACADA survey conducted in 2022 reported that 600,000 Kenyans aged between 15 and 65 are cannabis users, equating to a national prevalence rate of nearly two percent. The report, titled 'Status of Drugs and Substance Use (DSU) in Kenya, 2022', indicates that over 90 percent of psychotropic substance abusers are male. The agency has raised alarms over the surge in bhang usage in Western Kenya, marking it as a leading region in illicit alcohol and drug abuse.

While marijuana is utilized in some medical prescriptions, excessive consumption can lead to adverse effects such as confusion, fatigue, anxiety, mood changes, and, in severe cases, hallucinations and paranoia. In 2024, authorities seized over 2.8 million liters of illicit alcohol and 6,000 kilogrammes of bhang, resulting in nearly 30,000 arrests, with Nairobi, Central, Rift Valley, Nyanza, and Western regions being the most affected.

Kenya has become a key player in East Africa's burgeoning illicit drug trade, evolving from a transit point to a major manufacturing and distribution hub for illegal substances. The Eastern and Southern Africa Commission on Drugs (ESACD) reports the emergence of clandestine methamphetamine laboratories in Nairobi and coastal areas, forming part of a larger East and Southern African manufacturing corridor. Methamphetamine, known locally as 'crystal', has infiltrated Kenyan communities, particularly in informal settlements across Nairobi, Kisumu, and Mombasa, highlighting the pervasive nature of the drug trade in the country. The ESACD attributes this expansion to socio-economic challenges such as unemployment and urbanization.