Two suspects were arrested while transporting sandalwood valued at approximately Sh5 million in what police termed as a commendable operation by a multi-agency team in Nyahururu.
Acting on reliable intelligence, the team sprang into action along the Nyahururu-Rumuruti road, where they successfully intercepted a vehicle.
Upon inspection, authorities discovered the vehicle was loaded with approximately 532 kilograms of sandalwood, police said.
The driver along with his accomplice was arrested on the spot. They, along with the confiscated sandalwood, have been escorted to the Nyahururu Police Station, where they were detained in the Sunday operation pending arraignment.
Meanwhile, the seized sandalwood and the vehicle are being securely held as exhibits.
This operation serves as a strong reminder of the government’s commitment to combat illegal trade and the protection of valuable natural resources, police said.
Sandalwood oil is extracted from the woods for use and is often cited as one of the most expensive woods in the world.
Kenya banned the harvesting and trade of sandalwood in 2007.
However, the trees continue to be cut for their essential oil, which is extracted to manufacture medicines and cosmetics.
The whole tree is uprooted to access the sandalwood oil, most of which is found in the roots and trunk.
Elsewhere, two women believed to be part of a drug distribution network in Mombasa were arrested as detectives intensify crackdown on narcotics trafficking within the coastal city and its outskirts.
Acting on a tip-off, detectives from the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) stormed a house in Bombolulu, where one of the women had turned her home into a secret stash point.
A thorough search led officers to a surprising find 58 large rolls of bhang weighing approximately 8 kilograms, all ingeniously tucked away in the ceiling of her toilet.
In Tudor’s Moroto area, a 42-year-old woman was cornered.
A search of her house led to the recovery of 8 large rolls of bhang. Also recovered were 36 small rolls, 30 medium rolls, and 10 more small rolls of bhang, in her handbag all ready for sale.
Police have mounted operations targeting drug traffickers in various parts of the country.
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