A 29-year-old Nigerian national Christian Ikechukwu Uzochukwu has been arrested in Kenya over his alleged involvement in a narcotics trafficking network operating across the East African country. 

The country’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) disclosed Mr Uzochukwu’s arrest in a X statement on Wednesday, following an inter agency raid on his house, where sachets of cannabis sativa were reportedly found.

According to the DCI, law enforcement officers stormed the home of the suspect in the Kabarnet area after intelligence flagged him as being a major figure in a drug trafficking ring running illicit trade in the city.

The DCI said, “Detectives from the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU), alongside their counterparts from the Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU), have arrested a trafficker, recovering sachets of cannabis sativa from his house.

“The suspect, 29-year-old Nigerian national Christian Ikechukwu Uzochukwu, was cornered following intelligence-led investigations that painted him as a key player in a narcotics trafficking network operating within the city. Acting on this intelligence, detectives descended on his residence in the Kabarnet area along Ngong Road.”

The agency stated that at least 33 sachets containing cannabis sativa were discovered inside Mr Uzochukwu’s residence. Other items, including two passports with the name of the suspect were also confiscated by officials.

Further investigation into the suspect also showed that he had allegedly been living illegally in Kenya. He is currently detained at the Muthaiga Police Station ahead of his arraignment.

“A thorough search of the house led to the recovery of 33 sachets of cannabis sativa neatly packed and ready for distribution. Detectives also recovered two passports bearing the suspect’s name, alongside other items.

“Preliminary investigations have further revealed that the suspect is in the country illegally. The suspect was escorted to Muthaiga Police Station for processing pending arraignment. Meanwhile, the recovered drugs have been detained as exhibits,” the DCI added.

Mr Uzochukwu’s arrest stirred comments online with many blaming open borders for increase in crime, while some urged that cannabis should be decriminalised.

“A Nigerian comes all the way to Kenya to sell weed to our children yet the courts will just release him on bail. We don’t have a country,” a X user @Kennahfreedom stated. 

Another commenter, Authentik Digital Marketers, stated, “A foreigner who is caught red handed with prohibited goods should just be taken to court then jail. After he has completed his jail term, deportation should be a MUST!.”

Meanwhile, @OchiengOnyang0 maintained that people should not be jailed for cannabis possession. He said that plans were underway to file a lawsuit in court to that effect. 

“Honestly in this age, being that information is ubiquitous, cannabis should no longer be classified as a narcotic. We can’t afford incarcerating young men over petty offences like simple possession of cannabis. Very soon we will take a constitutional petition to the High Court,” he said.