One Arrested as NACADA Seizes 5,000 Litres of Illicit Alcohol in Emali Crackdown
The operation, conducted at a residential complex, led to the arrest of one suspect and the closure of an illegal brewing den operating within a housing compound
By : Mweru Mbugua
The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has seized more than 5,000 litres of illicit alcohol following a multi-agency raid in Emali Town, Makueni County
The operation, conducted at a residential complex, led to the arrest of one suspect and the closure of an illegal brewing den operating within a housing compound
Authorities also discovered an unlicensed bar concealed inside the residential area
The raid came barely a day after President William Ruto chaired a high-level security meeting at State House, Nairobi, during which substance abuse was declared a national development and security threat
The declaration triggered intensified enforcement actions across the country
Speaking during the operation, NACADA Chief Executive Officer Dr Anthony Omerikwa said the Authority had scaled up supply suppression efforts in line with the presidential directive
He warned financiers and masterminds of the illicit alcohol trade that enforcement agencies would now pursue both suspects and assets linked to the illegal business.
Dr Omerikwa noted that properties found to be proceeds of illegal brewing and distribution would be confiscated, signalling a shift towards asset forfeiture alongside arrests
According to NACADA, investigations revealed a well-coordinated syndicate producing counterfeit alcohol using industrial yeast to hasten fermentation
The Authority warned that such brews pose severe health risks, as the substances used are unsafe for human consumption
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“NACADA is leading a coordinated national response to this menace,” Dr Omerikwa said
“The so-called big fish should be warned we are stopping at nothing. We are coming for you, and you will face the full force of the law”
He credited members of the public for providing intelligence that led to the successful raid, noting that community cooperation has become crucial in dismantling illicit alcohol networks
NACADA has urged the public to continue sharing information through its 24-hour toll-free hotline, 1192, as the nationwide crackdown on illegal alcohol production and distribution intensifies
