Cartons of suspect alcohol impounded

Narok South Administration Police boss Superintended Joseph Tum displays a bottle of some of the brews worth Kshs30,000 that were impounded by police from bars in Kipturgut, Ngoringori and Eseneton areas, in Narok South Sub-county, Narok County on 22nd July,2014.PHOTO :CHARLES NGENO/STANDARD

Narok; Kenya: Police in Mulot Central, Narok South sub-county, have confiscated 638 cartons of alcoholic drinks suspected to be illicit.

In an operation led by Inspector Peter Muruiki and Corporal Anthony Chirchir of Mulot Administration Police Station, the officers also revoked the licence of the operator in whose premises the drinks were found packed in plastic bottles on Saturday evening.

Mr Muruiki said the brew was packaged in 205 ml bottles and the operator had only displayed the approved drinks in the shelves while selling the ones packed in plastic in a back room.

“During our night patrol we were informed by the public that the operator was selling the drinks using a back door. It was then that we planned the raid,” said Muruiki.

officers struck

Muruiki said the operator admitted to have had sold over 862 cartons by the time the officers struck. He warned the public against taking any drink packed in plastic bottles.

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“We want to request those selling these brands to remove them from their shelves because we suspect they could be poisonous,” he said and appealed to the public to report to the authorities drinks they suspect to be poisonous.

He said the police and Provincial Administration are on high alert in the area following the death of nine people after consuming illicit drinks at Duka Moja trading centre in Narok North sub-county.

Public Health Officer Stephen Madiema said samples of the drink will be sent to the Government Chemist for testing. He said the KRA and Kenya Bureau of Standards labels used were suspicious and that they could have been forged.

“We have embarked on a campaign to weed out operators who want to paint the image of the industry in bad light. We bank on the cooperation of the public for this to succeed,” he said.

Area Chief Joseph Korir appealed to bar and restaurant owners to report to the  police all distributors of the illegal liquor.

“We want to collaborate with the business community and the police in guaranteeing everyone’s safety. We also ask them to stick to the stipulated time of operation,” said Korir, adding that those who will be found operating  beyond the stipulated time will have their licences revoked.