Seven suspects have been arrested after a multi-agency security team seized 13,200 litres of ethanol and thousands of packets of suspected counterfeit cigarettes during an intelligence-led operation in Thika West Subcounty.
The operation, conducted in Umoja area, targeted a compound believed to have been used as a storage and distribution centre for illicit goods.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), officers recovered 66 drums, each containing 200 litres of ethanol, bringing the total volume seized to 13,200 litres.
The team also uncovered 17,640 packets of suspected counterfeit cigarettes that had been concealed beneath animal hides inside one of two lorries found at the premises.
The two trucks, believed to have been used to transport the illegal consignment, were impounded as part of the operation.
Authorities said all the recovered items have been secured as exhibits while investigations continue to establish the source of the products, their intended destination and the full extent of the criminal network behind the operation.
The seven suspects remain in police custody pending processing and arraignment in court.
The DCI said the raid is part of ongoing efforts to dismantle organised criminal syndicates involved in illicit trade, warning that such activities pose significant risks to public health, undermine legitimate businesses and deny the government much-needed tax revenue.
"The Directorate of Criminal Investigations remains focused on breaking down illegal trade networks that threaten public health, support organised crime, undermine legitimate businesses, and deprive the country of vital revenue," the agency said.
The seizure comes amid growing concern over the expanding illicit alcohol trade in Kenya.
Industry reports indicate that illicit alcohol now accounts for approximately 60 per cent of all alcoholic beverages sold in the country. The underground trade has been fuelled by high taxation on legitimate products, making illegal alternatives more attractive to consumers.
The consumption of unregulated alcohol has reportedly risen by 27 per cent since 2022, creating what experts describe as a multi-billion-shilling shadow economy that continues to evade regulation.
Authorities warn that the illegal trade has contributed to
numerous deaths and cases of long-term health complications linked to toxic and
unregulated alcoholic products, while also depriving the Exchequer of
substantial tax revenues.
Counterfeit tobacco products have also emerged as a major concern for enforcement agencies.
According to the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA), counterfeit cigarettes account for nearly 90 per cent of all reported tobacco-related counterfeiting cases in Kenya, making the sector one of the country's most affected by illicit trade.
The illegal cigarette market is estimated to cost the government billions of shillings annually in lost tax revenue while exposing consumers to unregulated products that may contain harmful substances.
