A middle-aged woman suspected to be the main supplier of bhang in Murang’a town and its outskirts was arrested on Tuesday with 11 kilograms of bhang with a street value of Ksh.500,000.
The woman also had 500 rolls of the banned drug in her possession as well as apparatus used to process the rolls after police stormed her rental house in Kiangiri village.
Kiharu Assistant County Commissioner Priscilla Kiluti said the woman is part of a chain of bhang sellers in the county which includes her 75-year-old mother who was arrested last month for selling bhang to school going children. The granny, who was charged and is out on bail, is also on the police “most wanted” list as she hasn’t abandoned the trade.
“We received intelligence from members of public and we trailed her for long until we found and arrested her,” said Kiluti.
The county boss said the bhang is often sold to school children urging the members of the public to continue working together with the authority to bring to an end the bhang menace.
On his part Murang’a Township Chief Charles Muna said the arrest of the suspect is a major step in the crackdown on bhang since she is the main supplier to the peddlers in the area.
“Today is a big day for us, we believe she has vital information that will lead to the arrest of the distributors because they work in a chain and she forms an integral part of the command chain,” Mr Muna said.
Locals have attributed the increase of usage of bhang in the area with the absurd occurrences like murders, general insecurity and children dropping out of school.