Police in Kisumu Central Constituency have arrested a suspected bhang peddler and four other individuals found smoking the illicit substance in a renewed crackdown on drug trafficking within the lakeside city.
The operation was carried out by officers on routine patrol within the Central Business District (CBD), where they intercepted Anthony Omondi Ouma.
According to police reports, Ouma was found in possession of 200 sticks of bhang believed to be ready for distribution.
The four other suspects were apprehended separately within the CBD while allegedly smoking bhang in public, an offence under Kenya’s narcotics laws.
Officers said the arrests were part of intensified surveillance and patrols targeting hotspots known for drug abuse and petty crime.
Police confirmed that Ouma will be arraigned in court on Friday to face charges of possession of narcotic drugs.
The four others are expected to face charges related to smoking bhang.
Authorities noted that the crackdown forms part of a broader national campaign against illicit drugs and alcohol spearheaded by President William Ruto.
The initiative aims to dismantle supply chains, curb youth involvement in substance abuse, and restore public order in urban centres.
Kisumu police have vowed to sustain operations in collaboration with the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) and community policing units to address the growing concern over drug use among young people.
Residents have welcomed the arrests but called for consistent enforcement and rehabilitation programmes to tackle the root causes of drug abuse in the region.
Police urged members of the public to report suspected drug dealers and users to assist in ongoing efforts to rid the city of narcotics.
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