The sub-county commander of Samburu East county has been apprehended by police after he was found in possession of bhang and rare sandalwood logs.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives raided his home at 6pm on Tuesday after acting on intelligence received where they uncovered more bhang and endangered wildlife species.
The officer was arrested after police intercepted his vehicle ferrying sandalwood logs to an unknown destination.
According to Samburu county Commissioner, Henry Wafula, 420 rolls of bhang were found in his house and will be used as exhibits against him in court.
“The officer is being escorted to Nairobi by officers from the Serious Crime Unit. It is very unfortunate that he was engaging in such illegal activities. We cannot accept,” Wafula told the press.
The total value of consignment the suspect was dealing in is still unclear.
Wafula assured the public that a security team had been added to combat illegal sandalwood harvesting and other indigenous trees in the forest.
“We will not spare anyone found transporting the pieces of sandalwood because it is illegal. We will take the illegal harvesting of the wood here in Samburu,” he said.
The authorities are further searching for two police corporals who are alleged to be in partnership with the rogue commander in this illicit trade.
He was apprehended in Wamba Samburu East and will be taken to Nairobi to face charges.
Authorities in the area have been faulted by locals for failing to end the illegal trade of Sandalwood in the region and collaborating with sandalwood dealers.
The rare tree species is almost extinct and has been in high demand due to its value in traditional medicine, woodworking, rituals, pharmaceuticals and perfumes making it highly prized worldwide.