NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 1 – In a major crackdown over the weekend, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), in collaboration with the National Police Service and National Government Administration Officers, seized thousands of litres of counterfeit alcohol and narcotics in Murang’a and Taita-Taveta counties, arresting multiple suspects.
The operation began on Friday evening in Kahuro Sub-County, Murang’a, where tip-offs led officers to recover 10 crates of suspected counterfeit alcohol and arrest two individuals.
On Saturday, a raid on a major distributor in Murarandia Market Centre uncovered 216 crates and 4 cartons of spirits, suspected to bear fake Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) stamps.
Additional compliance checks in Kahatia Market resulted in four more arrests and the seizure of 115 bottles of illicit alcohol.
In Taita-Taveta County, a multi-agency team targeted narcotics and illicit brews. In Maryland, Mwatate, officers arrested three suspects and recovered 29 rolls of cannabis alongside sacks used for transport.
Raids in Voi’s Tanzania slums and Mwatate’s Shakahola area led to the destruction of over 500 litres of the toxic brew ‘Mpasho’ on the spot.
NACADA CEO Dr. Anthony Omerikwa attributed the success to a renewed national directive to curb alcohol and drug abuse.
“The counterfeit alcohol kingpins and drug traffickers are falling one by one as the Authority steadily moves to ensure a country safe from the harms associated with alcohol and drug use,” Omerikwa stated.
He added that traffickers are devising new strategies to hide in plain sight, but NACADA is proactively intercepting illicit operations while ensuring arrears for prosecution and asset forfeiture processes are initiated.
All suspects are in custody pending arraignment, while the seized alcohol is awaiting verification by the Kenya Revenue Authority.
NACADA has vowed that intensified nationwide operations targeting counterfeit alcohol and drugs will continue unabated.
