POLICE ARREST BUS DRIVER AND CONDUCTOR FOR SMUGGLING LIVE ROCK PYTHON AT NAMANGA BORDER

A routine inspection at the Namanga Border crossing has led to the arrest of a bus driver and conductor after authorities discovered a live rock python hidden inside a wooden box aboard a Tanzanian passenger bus destined for Nairobi.

The operation, which took place earlier this week, during standard clearance procedures, officers flagged a Tanzanian bus reportedly heading to Nairobi. A closer inspection revealed an unusual and illegal “passenger” concealed within a wooden box a live rock python.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) was immediately called to the scene. KWS officers safely handled and secured the snake, ensuring the reptile came to no harm. “What unfolded was a quiet but powerful display of skill, training, and respect for wildlife expertise you don’t often get to witness up close,” a KWS spokesperson noted.

This successful interception was not a solo effort. Behind the scenes, a strong multi-agency task force was in motion. The Kenya Wildlife Service worked side by side with the National Police Service (NPS), the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to execute the operation seamlessly.