Police in Nyali, Mombasa have launched a crackdown on shisha smokers.
31 people among them a manager at Black Out lounge were arrested in an operation that was carried out on Sunday.
The operation which was led by Mombasa County Police Commander Johnston Ipara saw 16 officers pose as shisha smokers. The undercover officers were also arrested alongside the other suspects but were later released.
The county police boss noted that Black Out entertainment joint is a notorious source of the illegal substance.
The club is located in a residential area where one can hardly notice the activities being carried out by revellers who frequent it, the Nation reports.
“We have been monitoring that place for quite some time. What was seized is the biggest haul of shisha and we are still going to crack down on the others who have an interest in breaking the law,” said Mr Ipara as quoted by the Nation.
Shisha was outlawed in December 2017 by the then Health Cabinet Secretary Dr Cleopa Mailu. An investigation by the daily revealed that Tudor, Mtwapa, Bamburi and Nyali has several joints selling the flavoured tobacco.
Early this year, Director of Public Health in the Ministry of Health, Dr Kepha Ombacho warned shisha supplies of serious legal action.
“I can confirm to you that nobody has been licensed to import or sell shisha in Kenya and so those who are doing so are engaging in illegal business contrary to the law,” said Ombacho as quoted by the Standard.