NGONYEK, TRANS NZOIA COUNTY – In a dramatic pre-dawn operation, a NACADA-led multi-agency team has unraveled a sophisticated counterfeiting and illegal ethanol distribution network operating out of a quiet homestead in Trans Nzoia County.
The raid, which took place on Thursday, February 27 morning in the Ngonyek area, resulted in the arrest of three suspects and the seizure of over 400 litres of industrial ethanol, a substance strictly prohibited for human consumption. The homestead was found to be doubling as a clandestine packaging plant, with officers recovering hundreds of empty 250ml branded alcohol bottles and thousands of counterfeit packaging cartons designed to mimic popular legitimate brands.
In a significant blow to the illicit trade, NACADA officials also uncovered a trove of fake Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) excise stamps. The counterfeit stamps represent millions of shillings in lost tax revenue, highlighting the dual danger of the operation: a public health risk and economic sabotage.
Speaking at the scene shortly after the operation, NACADA CEO Dr. Anthony Omerikwa revealed that the strike was the culmination of weeks of intensive surveillance on the suspects’ activities. He emphasized that the crackdown on the upper echelons of the drug trade is yielding results.
“The kingpins in the drugs and substance abuse trade in this country continue to fall each day. For every one of them that the government puts behind bars, our society becomes a safer place for our families and our youth,” Dr. Omerikwa stated.
The CEO pointed to the audacious location of the illegal operation, which was nestled between two churches, as a deliberate strategy to evade detection. “This homestead, strategically located between two places of worship, provided the perfect cover for these illegal activities. It is a stark reminder that these criminal networks often hide in plain sight, exploiting the trust of the community,” he added.
The operation was met with palpable relief and praise from local residents. Community members hailed NACADA for dismantling the ring, citing the terror the illegal brew has inflicted on the area. Residents recounted numerous incidents of young people falling seriously ill and, in some cases, losing their lives after consuming suspected counterfeit alcohol, which is often laced with toxic industrial ethanol to increase potency and profit margins.
The confiscated ethanol and packaged products have been transported to a NACADA laboratory, where they will undergo further analysis to ascertain their exact chemical composition. The findings will be critical in building a strong case against the suspects.
The three individuals apprehended during the raid are currently in police custody and are expected to be arraigned in court on Friday. They will face multiple charges, including the illegal possession and distribution of industrial ethanol, manufacturing of counterfeit goods, and defrauding the government of revenue through the use of fake excise stamps. The multi-agency team involved in the operation included officers from the National Police Service and KRA.
