Police have arrested a man during a targeted operation in Mombasa County after being found in possession of several items, including at least 80 rolls of a substance suspected to be cannabis sativa, two kitchen knives, and 10 gas lighters, among other items.
In a statement, police said the arrest took place in the Makaburini area, where a joint team of officers from Kongowea Police Station and National Government Administration Officers raided a suspected drug den.
The arrest was a result of close cooperation between security agencies and members of the public.
“This operation is part of a broader national effort to eliminate the drug menace, in collaboration with other government agencies and members of the public, who continue to play a key role by providing crucial information,” the National Police Service (NPS) posted on X on Saturday, June 14, 2025.
The National Police Service has reaffirmed its commitment to a drug-free society, saying such substances pose a serious threat to the safety, health, and future of young people across the country.
Drug hubs
Makaburini and other informal areas in Mombasa have been under police radar due to the increasing cases of drug-related crimes.
Authorities say such operations will continue across the country in a bid to break drug supply chains and dismantle networks involved in the trade.
In recent years, Mombasa County has emerged as a hotspot for narcotics trafficking.
Reports by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) reveal that Coast counties, particularly Mombasa and Kilifi, have some of the highest rates of cannabis and heroin use in the country.
The government has declared drug trafficking a national security threat, promising intensified efforts to combat the cartels operating along the Kenyan coast.
Several operations have been launched in Mombasa’s informal settlements, including Majengo, Old Town, and Makaburini, which police have identified as key transit and distribution points.
Kenneth Mwenda
Kenneth Mwenda is a digital writer with over five years of experience. He graduated in February 2022 with a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from The Co-operative University of Kenya. He has written news and feature stories for platforms such as Construction Review Online, Sports Brief, Briefly News, and Criptonizando. In 2023, he completed a course in Digital Investigation Techniques with AFP. He joined K24 Digital in May 2025. For inquiries, he can be reached at [email protected].
