Kenyan detectives have arrested a 37-year-old Italian national suspected of running a sophisticated underground drug laboratory and illegal cannabis farm in Mwabungo village, Ukunda, in a major operation conducted by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The suspect, believed to be the mastermind behind a transnational narcotics operation, was apprehended alongside a Kenyan accomplice following intensive surveillance led by the Anti-Narcotics Unit and local law enforcement.
🕵️♂️ DCI RAID UNCOVERS SECRET DRUG MANUFACTURING HUB
In a statement released on Monday morning, DCI confirmed that the bust took place on a secluded one-acre property secured with high concrete walls and a fortified gate, strategically located away from public view.
During the raid, officers uncovered:
- Chemical compounds used in the synthesis of synthetic drugs
- Lab equipment such as flasks, burners, mixers, and filtration tools
- Packaging materials labeled with well-known narcotics brands
- A section of cultivated cannabis, believed to be used for commercial distribution
“The property was clearly designed for illegal drug manufacturing and concealment,” noted one senior officer. “This was no ordinary home. It was a full-scale operation hidden in plain sight.”
🌍 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS NETWORK IMPLICATIONS
This high-profile arrest comes only months after the DCI dismantled another suspected international drug lab in Kajiado County, where a group of foreign nationals including Nigerians and Mexicans were found operating a similar narcotics processing center.
In that earlier raid, detectives discovered:
- A 10-acre parcel near the Nairobi-Namanga highway
- Makeshift labs hidden inside iron-sheet structures
- Stored chemicals, lab glassware, and a makeshift chemical kitchen
- Sleeping quarters indicating round-the-clock drug production
Authorities believe these busts are connected to a wider international drug trafficking syndicate with links to Nigeria, India, Mexico, Gabon, and South Africa.
⚖️ SUSPECTS TO FACE CHARGES IN COURT
The two Ukunda suspects are currently being held in police custody and are expected to be arraigned in court in the coming days. Police are preparing charges ranging from:
- Drug manufacturing
- Cannabis cultivation
- Operating an unlicensed pharmaceutical facility
- Violating Kenyan drug control laws
The National Police Service has vowed to continue dismantling narcotic operations and arresting foreign nationals involved in the illegal drug trade.
“We remain committed to protecting our communities and youth from the destructive influence of illegal drugs,” the statement from DCI read.
