Officers from the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) have seized 750 liters of ethanol during a crackdown in Ruaka, Kiambu County.

This was during a multi-agency operation on February 7, 2024 involving officers from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the National Police Service.

“Operating on intelligence, the team also recovered over 40 empty drums with a capacity of 250 liters each, suspected to have contained the ethanol and which is suspected to have already been ferried for illegal activities,” Nacada noted in a statement.

This comes a few days after an incident in Kirinyaga County where 13 revelers tragically lost their lives while others are still receiving treatment after consuming what is suspected to be illicit alcohol.

“Drinking this type of alcohol is risky to health and could have dangerous consequences. Counterfeit or illegally produced alcohol can lead to blindness, and even death,” Nacada noted.

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Nacada CEO Anthony Omerikwa explained that he is working closely with the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) and other law enforcement agencies to intensify the crackdown on substandard, illicit, and counterfeit alcohol in the country.

He stated that the move will help to safeguard the public from harmful alcoholic products. 

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“The heightened vigilance and sporadic crackdowns will continue across the country and anyone found to be complicit will face the full wrath of the law,” said the Nacada CEO.

He also appealed to members of the public to share any information regarding the illegal manufacturing, distribution, or sale of illicit alcohol to the authorities.