38 suspects arrested in crackdown on shisha dens in Nyali

Thirty-eight suspects were arrested in Mombasa's posh Nyali area in a sting operation conducted by security officers.

The suspects, who comprised men and women, were allegedly caught smoking shisha at around 7:30 pm on Saturday night.

The officers confiscate over 47 shisha pots and 700 ingredients from two joints during the crackdown.

The operation started with the officers strategising by making sure its informers were already in the said dens ahead of the raids.

At the Hideout premises in Nyali, which is similar to an apartment with a large parking area and resting areas, some of the smoking revellers were found inside their vehicles while others were enjoying football matches.

Inside rooms

Others were arrested inside some of the rooms in the apartment.

“We are shocked because this is an apartment with a bar and restaurant licence that expired in August 2017, when shisha was banned in Kenya," said National Campaign on Alcohol and Drugs Authority Chief Executive Officer Anthony Omerikwa.

A suspect posing as a police officer was arrested and will be charged with impersonation.

Out of those arrested, nine were women clad in hijabs.

At the Escape Shisha den, a few people were arrested.

“Someone must have tipped them that we are around. Look at the number of chairs. There were many people here. Even these TVs have just been switched off. Some have even forgotten their phones on these tables,” one of the multi-agency team officers could be heard lamenting.

“Shisha was banned in 2017. We are going to follow up with the county authorities and other officers to understand how some dens are operating with expired licences and selling illegal substances,” Omerikwa said.