The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) says it has recovered narcotics worth an estimated KSh779.6 million and arrested 1,631 suspects in a renewed nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking between January and October 2026.
In remarks during a media briefing on the government’s anti-narcotics campaign, the DCI said the recoveries included 21,005.54 kilogrammes of cannabis valued at KSh630.1 million, 10.23 kilogrammes of cocaine worth KSh40.9 million and 7.74 kilogrammes of heroin valued at KSh23.2 million.
Other seizures included 7.67 kilogrammes of methamphetamine valued at KSh61.3 million and 4.8 kilogrammes of amphetamine estimated at KSh24 million.
The figures come amid intensified enforcement operations, with investigators also reporting a major breakthrough in Kwale County, where a multi-agency operation led to the arrest of three suspects and the seizure of 454 kilogrammes of suspected methamphetamine valued at approximately KSh3.6 billion.
Those arrested were identified as wanted drug trafficking suspect Basleman Saleh Khamis, Ugandan national Nakabugo Zuraicah and 54-year-old Tanzanian national Hamad Seif Said.
Detectives also recovered two motor vehicles and a motorcycle during the operation.
The DCI said the Kwale seizure adds to the country’s previous major narcotics recovery involving 1,036 kilogrammes of methamphetamine intercepted from the vessel MV Mashaallah in the Indian Ocean. The drugs were later destroyed at Bamburi Cement Factory in September 2026.
As part of efforts to strengthen enforcement, the Anti-Narcotics Unit was upgraded to the National Anti-Narcotics Investigations Bureau (NANIB) after narcotics trafficking was declared a national security priority.
The bureau’s capacity has since been expanded through the recruitment of 208 officers in April 2026, the establishment of 40 additional stations and the training of 314 officers at the National Criminal Investigations Academy.
The DCI also said it was working with the Asset Recovery Agency to pursue proceeds of drug trafficking, including cash, vehicles, land and businesses, in an effort to target financiers and organisers behind the trade.
The renewed campaign seeks to disrupt drug trafficking networks by strengthening investigations, expanding operational capacity and targeting the financial structures that sustain the narcotics business.
