The Government has stepped up the war against cartels involved in illicit alcohol and narcotic drugs.

Ruthless enforcement through covert intelligence operations will continue, under centralized multi agency command.

Out of the 36 manufacturers of second generation alcohol whose licenses had been suspended in 2024 for non-compliance with public health, environment, security and quality regulations, 8 of them have been cancelled while the 26 that subsequently complied are going to be re-inspected afresh with immediate effect.

A Multi Sectoral High Level Team has been established to be chaired by the Deputy President every two weeks to work with all stakeholders including industry representatives and local communities to monitor enforcement and to help in identifying criminal cartels and also assist to rehabilitate the victims of crime associated with illicit alcohol and drug cartels.

New legislative measures will be recommended within a month to regulate importation of ethanol and to make it painful to adulterate alcohol or to divert ethanol meant for industrial use.

Those making illicit alcohol in dark corners in local communities and urban environments will also be identified, severely punished and their networks crashed.

The Zero Tolerance Initiative to illicit alcohol and drug cartels will not entertain any political or other interferences whatsoever.