The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), in collaboration with local law enforcement, has seized hundreds of bottles of suspected counterfeit alcoholic beverages in Nyandarua North Sub-County.
The operation, conducted in the Uruku area, targeted a local alcohol outlet where authorities apprehended a 44-year-old female proprietor.
During the raid, officers recovered 1,710 bottles, each 250ml, of assorted alcoholic and soft drinks.
According to Nacada, preliminary inspections raised suspicions that the seized beverages may be counterfeit, posing a significant threat to public health.
The items were secured as exhibits, and samples have been sent to the government chemist for comprehensive analysis.
Speaking after the operation, Nacada’s Head of Enforcement, Nicholas Kosgei, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to eradicating harmful and illicit alcoholic products, especially in rural and semi-urban areas where regulatory violations are more prevalent.
“This operation is part of a broader national crackdown aimed at dismantling illegal alcohol networks and protecting the public from dangerous, unregulated substances,” Kosgei said.
The suspect is expected to be arraigned in court pending the results of the chemical analysis and the formulation of formal charges.
The raid comes shortly after Nacada carried out successful multi-agency operations in Homabay and Kisii counties.
In a coordinated intelligence-led raid in Oyugis, Homabay County, officers from NACADA, the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) and the Administration Police Service (APS) arrested two individuals in possession of suspected narcotics and contraband goods.
The authorities seized 400 packets of uncustomed Supermatch cigarettes, 14 packets of Oris cigarettes and cash in various denominations, believed to be proceeds from the illicit trade.
One of the suspects was also found with what is suspected to be cannabis sativa.
Meanwhile, in Kisii County, a separate operation led by NACADA in collaboration with the National Police Service (NPS), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and ANU Nyanza Region, uncovered what authorities described as a suspected drug storage and processing site.
The raid, conducted at a rental residence in Nyakongo Village, Kitutu Central Sub-county, led to the seizure of 134 brooms suspected to be laced with narcotic substances, along with two 90-kilogram sacks of dried plant material believed to be cannabis sativa.
Eight suspects were apprehended during the Kisii operation and are currently in police custody awaiting
Nacada has urged the public to
remain vigilant and report any suspicious alcohol products or outlets to
relevant authorities.
The public can reach the authority through its toll-free hotline 1192.
The agency emphasised its continued dedication to protecting Kenyans from the harmful effects of alcohol and drug abuse through enforcement, education, and partnerships with stakeholders.
