What was supposed to be an ordinary Nairobi-to-Lamu journey turned into a botanical investigation at Sabaki River Bridge this week, when a Lamu-bound bus was intercepted with a “green surprise” tucked in its luggage compartment.
Officers from multiple agencies, working together like a cross between a SWAT team and a detective reality show, flagged down the Tawakal Bus Service vehicle, registration KDN 368W, for a routine inspection. Little did they know, they were about to stumble upon what may be the most unusual baggage claim in recent memory.
What initially looked like innocent bundles of second-hand clothing turned out to be two hefty bales of cannabis sativa. Yes, among the sweaters, jeans, and questionable 1990s jackets, someone had been playing hide-and-seek with the law and losing spectacularly.
Detectives, no doubt suppressing smiles at the audacity of it all, homed in on the suspicious packages. But the scene was not without drama: one passenger, allegedly the owner of the herbal cargo, executed a daring escape, vanishing before officers could even say “traffic violation.” Reports suggest the suspect may have disappeared faster than socks in a dryer, leaving behind only questions, a busload of stunned travelers, and two large bales of very fragrant evidence.
Meanwhile, the bus driver and conductor found themselves in handcuffs, suddenly promoted from mere facilitators of inter-county travel to prime suspects in a criminal investigation. “They were just doing their jobs,” sources said, “and now they’re doing their time well, questioning time for what someone else snuck onto their bus.”
The seized cannabis is now securely detained as exhibits in the ongoing investigation, awaiting a fate decidedly less aromatic than its previous life in the luggage bay. Authorities are intensifying the manhunt for the elusive passenger, who may or may not be regretting the decision to sprint away from law enforcement with only streetwear and questionable life choices in tow.
For travellers, the incident serves as a reminder: always check the contents of your luggage and maybe double-check what your fellow passengers are carrying. For law enforcement, it’s another victory in the never-ending battle between “clever concealment” and the long arm of the law. And for everyone else…well, it’s a story that proves once again that the Kenyan highways are never short on surprises.
