NAIROBI, Kenya — The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has seized 1,645 litres of illicit ethanol valued at approximately Sh4,112,500 in a coordinated operation in Runda Estate, Westlands Sub-County, dealing a blow to illegal alcohol distribution networks.
The intelligence-led operation, conducted with support from officers attached to Runda Police Station and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), followed a public tip-off that led authorities to a concealed storage facility along Pan-African Road.
According to officials, the team initially visited a suspect’s residence in Ruaka Township, where occupants directed them to the hidden storage site.
Upon entry, officers recovered ethanol stored in multiple forms, including five 250-litre drums (1,250 litres), 60 two-litre bottles (120 litres), 16 twenty-litre jerricans (320 litres), and 10 half-litre sachets (5 litres).
Authorities also seized equipment believed to facilitate repackaging and distribution, including a metallic filling funnel, eight empty 20-litre jerricans, and four empty 20-litre drums.
NACADA Chief Executive Officer Anthony Omerikwa said the operation exposed evolving tactics used by illicit alcohol dealers to evade detection.
“We have discovered that criminals receive the commodity in large drums but break it down into smaller consignments — bottles, jerricans, and even sachets — which are far easier to transport undetected,” he said.
Omerikwa reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to combating illegal alcohol trade, warning that enforcement efforts will intensify.
“NACADA is not relenting where keeping communities safe is concerned. We will continue to dismantle these networks and protect Kenyan families from the dangers of illicit brews,” he added.
Two suspects were arrested at the scene and are currently being held pending arraignment. Scene of crime personnel processed and documented the location as investigations continue.
The crackdown comes amid sustained government efforts to curb the proliferation of illicit alcohol, which has been linked to serious public health risks, including poisoning and fatalities, as well as tax evasion.
Authorities have increasingly relied on multi-agency collaboration and public intelligence to disrupt illegal supply chains, particularly in urban areas where distribution networks are more complex.
The latest seizure underscores the scale and sophistication of illicit alcohol operations, even in high-end residential areas, and highlights the ongoing challenge facing regulators in protecting public health and enforcing compliance.
As the suspects await court proceedings, the case is expected to test enforcement mechanisms and the deterrent effect of existing legal frameworks in addressing the illicit alcohol trade.
