By Issa Hussein - Reporter
Kenya, July 12, 2026 - Police have arrested one suspect after uncovering a cannabis plantation cleverly concealed within a maize farm in Kongoni, Nakuru County, in the latest crackdown on illicit drug cultivation.
The National Police Service (NPS) said officers from Kongoni Police Station made the discovery on Saturday after acting on intelligence reports that pointed to illegal farming activities at Moi Ndabi Village in Kongoni Location.
According to police, the officers found about half an acre of land planted with suspected cannabis sativa, commonly known as bhang, which had been intercropped with maize in what investigators believe was a deliberate attempt to disguise the illegal crop as an ordinary farm.
"The illicit crop had been strategically interplanted with maize in a deliberate effort to evade detection by creating the appearance of a legitimate farm," the NPS said in a statement.
One suspect was arrested during the operation and remains in police custody pending arraignment.
Police said the operation demonstrates the growing sophistication employed by drug traffickers and cultivators to conceal illegal activities, but maintained that intelligence-led policing continues to expose such schemes.
The service reaffirmed its commitment to combating drug trafficking and cultivation through sustained intelligence gathering, proactive operations and close collaboration with local communities.
The latest seizure comes as the government intensifies efforts to curb the production, trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs across the country. Multi-agency security teams comprising the National Police Service, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Anti-Narcotics Unit have in recent months stepped up operations targeting cannabis plantations, drug traffickers and distribution networks in several counties.
The crackdown forms part of the government's broader strategy to dismantle organised drug syndicates, protect communities from substance abuse and enhance public safety. Authorities have repeatedly urged members of the public to share information on suspected drug-related activities, saying community cooperation remains critical in the fight against narcotics.
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