A road accident along the Nakuru–Nairobi Highway has led to the recovery of a large consignment of bhang, turning what initially appeared to be a routine traffic incident into a major narcotics investigation. Police recovered 241.5 kilogrammes of suspected bhang, estimated to have a street value of approximately KSh7.245 million, after an SUV carrying the illicit cargo crashed along the busy highway on Monday, September 21, 2026. 

The incident happened along the Nakuru–Nairobi Highway between Shinners Boys and the Mbaruk area, where a Mazda CX-5 travelling from Nakuru towards Nairobi was involved in a collision with an oncoming Scania trailer. According to preliminary investigations reported by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the driver of the SUV was attempting to overtake another vehicle when he lost control. 

How the accident happened

Police investigations indicate that the Mazda CX-5 was heading towards Nairobi when the driver attempted an overtaking manoeuvre. The manoeuvre reportedly went wrong, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

The SUV subsequently collided with an oncoming Scania trailer. The force of the collision caused the Mazda to spin, while its front section sustained extensive damage.

Following the crash, however, the driver did not remain at the scene. Instead, he abandoned the damaged vehicle and fled, leaving police and other responders to deal with the wreckage.

It was during the processing of the accident scene that officers discovered that the vehicle was carrying a substantial amount of suspected narcotics. 

Six sacks of bhang discovered

Officers from Nakuru Central Police Station searched the abandoned SUV and discovered six sacks containing suspected bhang.

The substance was weighed and found to total 241.5 kilogrammes. The DCI estimated its street value at KSh7,245,000, making the recovery a significant narcotics seizure. 

The discovery meant that the circumstances surrounding the accident immediately took on a new dimension. Instead of being investigated solely as a road traffic accident, the incident became part of a wider investigation into suspected drug trafficking.

Police secured the recovered narcotics as exhibits as detectives began working to establish the source of the drugs, their intended destination and the people who may have been involved in transporting the consignment.

Driver escapes after crash

One of the major developments in the case is that the driver remains at large.

According to reports, the driver fled after abandoning the wrecked SUV. Police have since launched a manhunt as detectives work to establish his identity and whereabouts. 

His escape has become an important part of the ongoing investigation because detectives will want to establish whether he was acting independently or transporting the narcotics on behalf of a larger network.

At this stage, authorities have not publicly established that the driver was the owner of the drugs. The recovery of the narcotics from the vehicle has triggered the investigation, but questions about ownership, source and intended destination will have to be established through evidence.

NANIB takes over investigations

The narcotics investigation has been taken over by detectives from the National Anti-Narcotics Investigations Bureau (NANIB) in Nakuru.

The specialised detectives are expected to examine the recovered drugs, the vehicle and other available evidence as they seek to establish the circumstances surrounding the transportation of the consignment.

Investigators will also be interested in determining where the bhang came from and where it was supposed to be delivered.

The investigation could potentially extend beyond the driver if detectives establish links to other individuals involved in the transportation, financing, distribution or supply of the narcotics.

The importance of the Nakuru–Nairobi Highway

The recovery also highlights the role of major highways in investigations involving the movement of illicit drugs.

The Nakuru–Nairobi corridor is an important transport route connecting western and Rift Valley areas with Nairobi and other parts of the country. Because of the large volume of traffic using the highway, law-enforcement agencies regularly conduct operations targeting criminal activity, including narcotics trafficking.

Recent police operations have also resulted in significant bhang seizures in the wider Nakuru region. In June 2026, for example, anti-narcotics detectives recovered 154 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa valued at about KSh4.62 million after intercepting a vehicle along the Eldoret–Nakuru Highway. Two suspects were arrested in that operation. 

The DCI has also reported other narcotics operations across the country, including the seizure of hundreds of kilogrammes of cannabis in different parts of Kenya. In July, officers in Nandi recovered 271.3 kilogrammes of cannabis from an SUV during an intelligence-led operation, although suspects reportedly escaped after abandoning the vehicle. 

These cases demonstrate the continued efforts by Kenyan law-enforcement agencies to intercept narcotics before they reach their intended markets.

A major setback for suspected traffickers

The recovery of 241.5 kilogrammes of bhang represents a significant interruption to whoever was responsible for the consignment.

Had the accident not occurred, the narcotics might have continued along the highway towards their intended destination. Instead, the crash exposed the cargo and provided police with an opportunity to seize it.

The estimated street value of KSh7.245 million also demonstrates the financial significance of the consignment. Its recovery means that the suspected traffickers have lost both the drugs and the potential proceeds associated with their distribution. 

However, the investigation does not end with the seizure. For law enforcement, identifying the people behind the transportation is equally important because a driver may only represent one part of a larger trafficking operation.

Police examining possible trafficking network

Detectives are expected to investigate several questions surrounding the case.

Among the issues likely to be examined are the identity of the driver, the ownership of the Mazda CX-5, the source of the six sacks and the intended destination of the narcotics.

Investigators may also examine communication records and other evidence associated with the vehicle and suspect once identified, subject to applicable legal procedures.

The damaged SUV itself could provide important evidence. Vehicle ownership records, forensic examination and other material recovered from the scene could help detectives establish who had control of the vehicle before the crash.

Police may also seek information from members of the public who witnessed the accident or saw the driver leaving the scene.

DCI commitment to fighting narcotics trafficking

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has continued to emphasise intelligence-led operations and cooperation with other agencies in the fight against narcotics trafficking.

The DCI has previously said that modern drug-trafficking networks can exploit technology, transport systems, financial channels and porous borders, making cooperation between law-enforcement agencies increasingly important. 

In July, the DCI also received operational vehicles from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration through the US Embassy in Nairobi. The vehicles were intended to strengthen the Anti-Narcotics Unit's capacity in areas such as surveillance, rapid response, intelligence-led investigations and coordination with international partners. 

The latest Nakuru recovery therefore comes against the backdrop of continuing efforts to strengthen Kenya's response to the trafficking and distribution of illegal narcotics.

Public safety concerns

Beyond the issue of illegal drugs, the incident also highlights the dangers associated with dangerous overtaking on busy highways.

The accident reportedly occurred after the SUV driver attempted to overtake and subsequently lost control before colliding with the Scania trailer. Such manoeuvres can have serious consequences for motorists, passengers and other road users.

In this case, the crash also exposed an alleged criminal activity that might otherwise have remained undetected.

The incident serves as another reminder of the risks faced by motorists on busy highways, particularly when drivers attempt risky overtaking manoeuvres or fail to maintain proper control of their vehicles.

What happens next?

The investigation is now expected to focus heavily on locating the driver who fled the scene.

Police will also continue examining the recovered narcotics and the vehicle as they build their case. The National Anti-Narcotics Investigations Bureau's involvement indicates that authorities are treating the matter as a serious drug-trafficking investigation rather than simply a possession case.

The authorities will need to establish the facts through evidence before any individuals can be held legally responsible for trafficking the drugs.

For now, the 241.5-kilogramme consignment remains in police custody as an exhibit, while detectives continue searching for the person who abandoned the vehicle.