The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA)-led multi-agency team has continued its relentless crackdown on illicit alcohol.
On Thursday, August 27, the Authority struck at a counterfeiting den in Jericho, Makadara Sub-County, Nairobi County, where three suspects were arrested for manufacturing and selling counterfeit alcoholic beverages.
In an operation conducted in the afternoon, the team comprising officers from NACADA, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), and the National Police Service apprehended three individuals, including a woman who was caught red-handed literally mixing and counterfeiting substandard alcohol in her premises.
A total of 315 assorted counterfeit alcoholic beverages were seized, alongside fake KRA stamps, empty bottles, and bottle tops intended for refilling. Some of the confiscated products were found to bear Tanzanian excise duty stamps, indicating a sophisticated cross-border counterfeiting operation. The three suspects were booked at Jogoo Road Police Station and are set to be arraigned in court tomorrow.
This operation comes amid heightened public concern over the upsurge in counterfeit and illicit alcohol consumption across the country, particularly during the ongoing electioneering period.
NACADA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Anthony Omerikwa confirmed that the Authority has intensified enforcement crackdowns nationwide, with a special focus on Nairobi, which accounts for a staggering 55 percent of the consumption of life-threatening alcoholic drinks.
“In response to the upsurge in counterfeit and illicit alcohol consumption in the country, and especially during the electioneering period, we have prompted heightened crackdowns across the country, particularly in Nairobi, which accounts for 55 percent of the consumption of life-threatening drinks,” said Dr. Omerikwa. “NACADA-led multi-agency teams across the country are intensifying their enforcement crackdowns, and offenders will have their day in court. We are not relenting in protecting communities against the harms of these killer drinks.”
The Jericho operation is the latest in a series of successful raids following a similar crackdown in Eastleigh yesterday, where 868 counterfeit and uncustomed alcoholic beverages were seized and two suspects arrested. The back-to-back operations signal NACADA’s unwavering commitment to dismantling the illicit alcohol supply chain and bringing perpetrators to justice.
Dr. Omerikwa further urged members of the public to join the fight by volunteering information to the Authority through its official social media platforms or via the free helpline 1192. “We cannot win this battle alone. We call upon Kenyans to be our eyes and ears and report any suspicious activities or outlets selling counterfeit alcohol,” he appealed.
As the three suspects await their day in court, NACADA has reiterated that the crackdown will continue unabated, with more operations planned in other high-risk areas across the country. The Authority has warned manufacturers and retailers that the law will catch up with those who choose to trade in counterfeit and illicit alcohol, emphasizing that the safety and health of Kenyans remain paramount.
