Italian national, accomplice arrested after police uncover cannabis farm, lab in Kwale County
Inside the compound, investigators discovered an assortment of laboratory equipment and various chemicals believed to be used in the processing and manufacture of narcotics.
Two suspects, including an Italian national, were arrested following a major drug operation in Mwabungo village, Ukunda, Kwale County, where police uncovered a concealed cannabis cultivation site within a fortified property.
The operation, led by officers from the Anti-Narcotics Unit alongside the Kenya Police, targeted a one-acre compound hidden behind towering perimeter walls and a heavily secured gate.
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The location had reportedly been under discreet surveillance for several days after intelligence reports pointed to suspicious activity.
During the raid, officers apprehended 37-year-old Gianardi Giulio, an Italian national, and Moses Nanoka Egadwa.
Inside the compound, investigators discovered an assortment of laboratory equipment and various chemicals believed to be used in the processing and manufacture of narcotics.
Also found were packaging materials bearing labels commonly associated with known illegal substances.
According to police, part of the property had been converted into a grow house for cannabis, with mature plants being cultivated under controlled conditions.
Authorities believe the setup was part of a well-coordinated and long-running operation possibly linked to a broader drug trafficking network.
Both suspects are currently in police custody as detectives continue to piece together the scale of the operation and track down other possible accomplices.
Police say the arrests are a significant breakthrough in ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking along the Coast, an area increasingly targeted by cartels due to its international links and access routes.
Formal charges are expected to be filed in court in the coming days.
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