Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have dismantled a high-end narcotics distribution hub in Mombasa’s Utange area, seizing heroin valued at over Sh4 million. The raid, executed by the elite Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU), exposed the lengths to which traffickers are going to conceal their deadly trade, including burying drugs in underground bunkers.

The intelligence-led operation targeted a residential compound in Kisauni Sub-County, which police had been monitoring for weeks. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-17)Officers from the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) joined the raid, storming the premises and arresting two prime suspects: Tawaida Ali Said and Shamim Abubakar. The duo is believed to be key linkmen in a syndicate supplying heroin to the coastal tourism belt.

The Underground Stash

While the initial search of the house yielded sachets of heroin concealed in the bedrooms, the major breakthrough came when keen-eyed detectives noticed disturbed earth in the compound. digging revealed a plastic package buried deep underground, containing the bulk of the haul. In total, 1,346 grams of heroin were recovered, with an estimated street value of KES 4,092,000.

"The traffickers are evolving," a senior detective involved in the operation revealed. "They no longer just hide drugs in mattresses or ceilings. They are burying them, building false walls, and using complex dead-drop systems. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-19)But our intelligence network is one step ahead."

• The Suspects: Tawaida Ali Said and Shamim Abubakar are currently being held at Kiembeni Police Station. Police describe them as "persons of interest" in several other drug-related investigations.
• The Evidence: Beyond the drugs, police seized digital weighing scales and packaging materials, clear indicators of a commercial distribution point rather than just personal use.
• The Impact: The seizure of 1.3kg of heroin removes thousands of potential "hits" from the streets of Mombasa, a city that has long struggled with the devastating social impact of opioid addiction.

A Renewed Coast Crackdown

This raid is part of a broader, aggressive "cleanup" strategy by the Ministry of Interior affecting the Coast region. With the Port of Mombasa often cited as a transit point for international drug cartels, local distribution networks have thrived in the shadows. The arrest of "middle-tier" distributors like Said and Abubakar is critical because it disrupts the supply chain between the international barons and the street peddlers.

Residents of Utange watched in shock as the heavily armed unit cordoned off the area. "We suspected something was wrong in that house," one neighbor shared on condition of anonymity. "Many cars, many motorcycles coming at night, but we were too afraid to speak."

As the suspects prepare to face court charges of trafficking in narcotics, the DCI has issued a stern warning: there are no safe havens. Whether in a high-walled mansion or a hole in the ground, the long arm of the law will find the poison—and those who peddle it.