A multi-agency security operation targeting the production and consumption of illicit alcohol in Isiolo County has resulted in the arrest of 27 suspects, the National Police Service (NPS) has announced.
In a statement shared on its X account on Saturday, June 27, the NPS said the intelligence-led operation was carried out a day earlier in the Mwangaza area by officers drawn from the National Police Service, the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO), the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), and the Isiolo County Government.
According to the police, the operation led to the arrest of two suspected manufacturers of the illicit brew and 25 individuals who were allegedly consuming the illegal alcohol at the scene.
“During the raid, the team arrested two key manufacturers of the illicit brew and 25 suspects who were consuming the liquor at the scene,” the statement read.
Authorities also recovered a large quantity of brewing ingredients, processing equipment and the illicit brew, all of which have been retained as exhibits to support investigations.
The suspects were escorted to Isiolo Police Station, where they remain in custody pending processing and arraignment in court.
The police said the operation forms part of an ongoing nationwide campaign to eliminate the manufacture, distribution and consumption of illicit alcohol.
“The National Police Service will continue to intensify surveillance, conduct targeted raids, and work with other government agencies and local communities to identify and shut down all illegal brewing dens,” the NPS said.
The service further appealed to members of the public to support the fight against illicit alcohol by reporting suspicious activities through the nearest police station, emergency numbers 999 and 911, or the #FichuaKwaDCI toll-free line and WhatsApp reporting channels.
Authorities have in recent months intensified crackdowns on illicit brews across the country amid concerns over their impact on public health and security.
