Dramatic Highway Chase Ends In Sh8m Bhang Bust In Nakuru

By Staff Writer

A suspected drug trafficker is set to appear in a Nakuru court tomorrow after detectives arrested him and recovered cannabis valued at about Sh8 million during a dramatic pursuit along the Eldoret–Nakuru Highway.

The suspect, identified as David Muraya, 35, was arrested on Saturday evening by detectives from the Anti-Narcotics Unit in the Rift Valley Region after officers intercepted a suspicious vehicle.

Police said the suspect was driving a blue Toyota Voxy, registration number KCS 496B, when officers on routine patrol flagged it down along the busy highway after it aroused suspicion.

Instead of stopping, the driver allegedly sped off, prompting detectives to launch a high-speed chase as the vehicle raced towards Nakuru’s Kaptembwa area in an attempt to evade arrest.

During the pursuit, officers managed to deflate the vehicle’s right front tyre in a bid to immobilise the car, but the suspect continued driving despite the damage.

The chase continued towards the 140 Area, where the driver eventually abandoned the vehicle in a vacant plot near Kaptembwa Police Station before attempting to escape on foot.

Detectives who had been pursuing him swiftly cornered and arrested the suspect moments later, bringing the dramatic chase to an end within the Kaptembwa neighbourhood.

A search of the abandoned vehicle uncovered thirteen sacks containing dry green plant material suspected to be cannabis sativa packed inside the car.

Police said the recovered consignment weighed approximately 272 kilograms and had an estimated street value of about Sh8,160,000.

“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations confirms that detectives recovered thirteen sacks of suspected cannabis weighing about 272 kilograms following the arrest of a suspect during the operation,” the DCI said.

Authorities said the seizure represents one of the significant anti-narcotics recoveries recorded in the region in recent months amid heightened efforts to curb drug trafficking.

The suspect was taken into custody and is currently being held by police pending his arraignment before a Nakuru court scheduled for Monday, March 16, 2026.

“The DCI remains firmly committed to intensifying operations against narcotics trafficking and dismantling networks involved in the illicit drug trade across the country,” the agency added.

Officials say investigations are ongoing to establish the origin and intended destination of the seized cannabis as detectives pursue possible links to wider trafficking networks.

Police have urged members of the public to continue cooperating with security agencies by reporting suspicious activities that could assist authorities in combating the growing threat of narcotics trafficking.