The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers have arrested two suspected traffickers, including a 17-year-old, for illegal possession of marijuana worth Ksh1.3 million.

The DCI, in a statement released on Tuesday evening, noted that the two traffickers were pulled over by police officers manning a roadblock on the Nambale-Busia road.

The officers ejected the two suspects, Okuchil Ayubu, 40, and the daring juvenile offender, from the Toyota Hiace vehicle.

Upon inspection of the vehicle, the officers seized five bales of marijuana, weighing 44 kilos.

In a separate incident, residents in Biamati area on the Mutemorabu-Boembu road tipped off officers from Isebania Police Station about notorious traffickers stashing sacks of marijuana in a secret bush hideout, ready for transportation.

The officers acted swiftly and managed to corner the traffickers, recovering five and a half sacks of bhang weighing a staggering 260kgs, with an estimated street value of Ksh.7.8 million.

According to the DCI, the suspects, however, managed to escape from the scene and into a nearby thicket.

"The suspects are in police custody undergoing processing pending arraignment, while ongoing efforts are being made to track down the suspects who managed to evade capture. The recovered narcotics are securely held as exhibits," the statement read in part. 

"The Directorate of Criminal Investigations extends its utmost gratitude to the public for sharing valuable information and stands firm in its commitment to counter trafficking in narcotics."