KAPSABET, Kenya — A late-night intelligence-led operation in Kapsabet Town has dealt a significant blow to narcotics and illicit alcohol networks operating within residential areas.
The crackdown, conducted near the Kapsabet Showground in Bondeni between 9:00 p.m. and 12:30 a.m., led to the seizure of 2,400 stones of cannabis, a 20-litre jerrican suspected to contain cannabis seeds, and 116 bottles of contraband vodka believed to have originated from Uganda.
One suspect was arrested and is expected to be arraigned in court, while all confiscated items have been secured as exhibits.
The operation was led by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) in collaboration with local security agencies. Authorities said the raid targeted drug supply chains embedded within residential neighbourhoods, raising concerns over children’s exposure to narcotics.
NACADA Chief Executive Officer Anthony Omerikwa warned that criminal activity in close proximity to homes and schools presents serious risks to minors.
“Protection of our communities is paramount. We are executing intelligence-led crackdowns to dismantle supply chains while strengthening prevention programmes,” Dr. Omerikwa said.
He noted that the involvement of adults in the illicit trade highlights the need for heightened community vigilance and coordinated enforcement.
According to NACADA, the agency’s strategy combines supply suppression through targeted enforcement with demand reduction initiatives in schools, families, and communities. The approach aligns with Kenya’s broader drug control framework, which seeks to curb trafficking while addressing underlying social factors driving substance abuse.
The Kapsabet operation follows similar coordinated raids in Trans Nzoia County, where NACADA officers recovered more than 400 litres of unlicensed ethanol and dismantled a cannabis distribution ring at Kitale Bus Park. Multiple suspects were arrested during the Trans Nzoia operation.
Authorities say illicit alcohol and narcotics distribution networks have increasingly shifted to informal residential settings to evade detection. Enforcement agencies have responded with intelligence-based surveillance and joint security operations.
Dr. Omerikwa described the latest crackdown as a warning to individuals profiting from drug and alcohol distribution.
“These actions send a strong message that we will not relent. Enforcement and prevention must go hand in hand to protect children and families,” he said.
Residents have been urged to report suspicious activity to authorities as investigations continue into the supply chains linked to the seized substances.
Security agencies in Nandi County said additional operations may follow as part of a sustained effort to dismantle local drug networks and shield vulnerable communities from exposure to narcotics and illicit alcohol.
