A clandestine drug distribution ring at Garissa University has been dismantled after police, acting on a tip-off, raided a hostel room and arrested a student found in possession of 650 rolls of bhang.

The Tuesday night operation, described by witnesses as "surgical and swift," exposes the growing underbelly of substance abuse infiltrating Kenya's institutions of higher learning. The suspect, whose identity is being withheld pending arraignment, is believed to be a key distributor supplying not just students but also local youth in Garissa town. The haul has an estimated street value of over KES 65,000, a significant amount for a campus dealer.

The Sting Operation

Garissa Sub-County Police Commander stated that the raid was the culmination of weeks of intelligence gathering. "We have been tracking the movement of narcotics into the university premises," the Commander said. "This was not an isolated case of consumption; 650 rolls indicate a commercial enterprise. We are investigating the source of these drugs, which we suspect are being trafficked from neighboring counties."

The suspect had reportedly concealed the narcotics in a suitcase under his bed, disguised amidst textbooks and personal effects—a chilling metaphor for the dual lives some students are leading.

A National Crisis

This arrest comes against the backdrop of a damning NACADA report indicating a surge in drug abuse among the 18-24 demographic. Universities, once bastions of academia, are increasingly becoming marketplaces for illicit substances.

• Security Implications: Authorities warn that drug proceeds often fuel other criminal activities, a sensitive issue in the North Eastern region.
• Administrative crackdown: The University administration has promised full cooperation with the police, warning that any student linked to drug trafficking faces immediate expulsion.
• Parental Anxiety: The news has sent shockwaves through the parent community, raising questions about supervision and safety within campus hostels.

The Legal Consequences

The student is currently being held at Garissa Police Station and is expected to face charges of possession of narcotic drugs and trafficking. If convicted, he faces a stiff custodial sentence, potentially ruining a promising academic future. "Let this be a warning," the Police Commander added. "There is no sanctuary for criminals, not even in a lecture hall."

As the investigation widens, police are looking for accomplices, signaling that this arrest might just be the first domino to fall in a larger cleanup of the region's education sector.