Police uproot bhang, seize six suspects

One of the bhang farms worth Sh50 million that was discovered in Nyatike, Migori County on December 29, 2013. Police have destroyed the bhang. PHOTO | ELISHA OTIENO

What you need to know:

  • Migori police boss Clement Gatogu said six suspects had been arrested in connection with the illegal drug
  • Bhang trafficking is rampant in Migori

Police have destroyed bhang worth millions of shillings in Migori County.

The expansive farms were found near Wath Ong’er trading centre in Nyatike constituency by officers acting on a tip-off.

Migori police boss Clement Gatogu said six suspects had been arrested in connection with the illegal drug.

“We suspect they are the owners of the farms,” he said.

The plant was uprooted under the watch of plainclothes officers armed with AK-47 rifles.

More than 100 regular and Administration Police officers were also mobilised from various police stations to help in uprooting the plant.

The team was later joined by inmates from the Migori GK Prison who loaded the drug into waiting police lorries.

“Local administrators have always known about the bhang,” said a villager, Mr John Onyango.

Migori County criminal investigations boss Violet Makhanu wondered how such farms could exist in a village that was under the watch of village elders and chiefs.

“They have all denied knowledge of the existence of these farms but we are still doing our investigations,” she said.

Migori Governor Okoth Obado praised the police for their quick action but told the provincial administration to “be serious” if the fight against bhang farming was to be won in the region.

Bhang trafficking is rampant in Migori.