Fatal chase: Suspected drug trafficker dies in Siaya road crash
The scene of an accident in Mutumbu area, Gem sub-County, where a motorcyclist suspected of trafficking drugs died after being hit by a truck on November 17, 2024.
A high-speed motorcycle chase of suspected drug traffickers on the Busia-Kisumu highway turned tragic after their bike collided with a truck in Mutumbu area in Gem sub-County, Siaya County.
Police gave chase after suspecting that the rider and his pillion passenger were transporting bhang and other contraband goods from Uganda through the border county on Sunday.
The motorcyclist died on the spot, while the pillion passenger was rushed to Yala Sub-County Hospital in critical condition.
The scene of the accident was littered with rolls of bhang and other illicit goods, attracting the attention of local residents and law enforcement officers.
According to Mr Philip Otieno, Chief of North Gem Location, the suspects were attempting to evade arrest when the accident occurred.
"The police were on their trail and they fled at a very high speed. Unfortunately, they rammed the truck and the rider died on the spot while the passenger was seriously injured and taken to hospital," said Mr Otieno.
The local administrator said authorities were working to identify the deceased rider and the injured passenger.
"This is a busy highway with many trucks plying the Uganda route. We advise the young people to engage in decent jobs and stop the get-rich-quick schemes that end up hurting them or putting them on the wrong side of the law," he said.
Meanwhile, in Siaya County, a woman was fined Sh2,000 after being found in possession of a litre of chang'aa, a locally brewed illicit alcohol.
She appeared before a Siaya magistrate and pleaded guilty.
The incident has added to growing concerns about the prevalence of illicit activities in the region, with local authorities calling for a concerted effort to curb drug and alcohol-related offences.
