TARBAN, Wajir County(Mogadishu24)- Kenya Police officers from Tarbaj Police Station successfully intercepted a passenger service vehicle (PSV) bus on Tuesday, suspected of smuggling contraband goods. To their astonishment, a thorough search led to the discovery of a hidden cache of firearms and ammunition, including an AK-47 rifle and 201 rounds of ammunition.

The PSV bus, identified by the registration number KCW 012S and owned by Legend Company, was en route from Mandera to Nairobi, carrying a total of 57 passengers.

The officers stationed at the Tarbaj Highway barrier promptly identified the vehicle as suspicious and took immediate action, detaining the bus for a comprehensive inspection. Subsequently, the bus was transported to Tarbaj Police Station to facilitate a joint search operation.

Through a thorough investigation, law enforcement officers made a startling discovery – illicit firearms and ammunition concealed beneath the rear passenger seats.

The recovered items include an AK-47 rifle, four empty AK-47 rifle magazines, two bolt head carriers, and a total of 201 rounds of 7.62×39mm ammunition.

As a result of the seizure, the police arrested five individuals, including the bus driver, conductor, mechanic, and two passengers. They are currently in custody, assisting with ongoing investigations.

Area Member of Parliament, Hussein Abdi Barre, praised the vigilance and dedication of the law enforcement officers in combating terrorism and the illegal arms trade.

“I am pleased with the recent development at Tarbaj Police Station, where a bus carrying firearms was apprehended. I am happy with the commendable work of our security forces. The bus originated from Mandera and was en route to Nairobi, passing through Tarbaj. The Police conducted a thorough search as part of their routine to combat illegal firearms trade, which is prevalent in various parts of the country, including Turkana, Isiolo, Namanga, and other regions,” said Hussein Abdi Barre, MP Tarbaj Constituency.

He added: “Illegal Arms trading and trafficking existed even before the emergence of extremist groups like Al-Shabaab and Daesh, with individuals engaged in international or regional trade. Therefore, I see them as criminals dealing with arms trading rather than individuals responsible for acts of terrorism.”

The Kenyan Police are conducting an investigation into the origins of the firearms and ammunition, as well as the intended destination of these illegal weapons.

This comes at a time when Kenya has recently experienced repeated Al-Shabaab attacks. However, there has been a new development in the fight against the terrorist group, as the Kenyan Police Forces successfully neutralized 20 Al-Shabaab militants Mandera, last week.