A 29-year-old woman has been arraigned at the Malindi Law Courts after detectives recovered 255 kilogrammes of suspected cannabis from a residential house in Kilifi County, in an operation led by the Anti-Narcotics Unit working with officers from Watamu Police Station.
Winfred Nkatha denied the charges and pleaded not guilty before the court. She was released on a Sh2 million surety bond, and the matter is set for pre-trial mention on April 23, 2026.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the arrest followed an intelligence-led operation targeting suspected drug trafficking activities in the Watamu area. Detectives acted on information that led them to a house along Mwatela Road, off the Watamu–Gede Road, where the suspect was found inside at the time of the raid.
Officers carried out a search of the premises and discovered eight sacks containing rolls of dry plant material wrapped in khaki paper, suspected to be cannabis. The suspect was taken into custody together with the recovered items and escorted to Watamu Police Station for further processing.
At the station, the exhibits were weighed and sampled, confirming the total weight at 255 kilogrammes. Authorities estimated the street value of the consignment at Sh7.65 million.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks and reduce the spread of narcotics within communities.
“We encourage members of the public to continue sharing information to support the fight against this vice,” the agency said, urging citizens to report suspicious activity via its toll-free line 0800 722 203 or WhatsApp 0709 570 000.
Officials noted that coordinated operations of this nature will continue across the region, adding that anyone linked to the trafficking of illegal drugs will face legal action.
The case adds to a series of enforcement actions in coastal Kenya as authorities intensify surveillance and intelligence-driven raids aimed at curbing the movement and distribution of narcotics.
