Multi-agency team seizes 750 litres of Ethanol in Ruaka

Containers intercepted by police in Kahuro, Murang'a with more than 680 liters of ethanol. [Boniface Gikandi, Standard]

Seven hundred and fifty liters (750) of pure ethanol were nabbed in a premise within Ruaka area of Kiambu County by a Multi-agency team operating on intelligence.

The multi-agency team comprised The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), and the National Police Service (NPS).

"The team also recovered over forty (40) empty drums with a capacity of two hundred and fifty (250) liters each, suspected to have contained the ethanol and which is suspected to have already been ferried for illegal activities," said NACADA.

This comes as the death toll of those killed in Kangai, Kirinyaga County after consuming alcohol believed to have been laced with ethanol hit 10, according to the Central Regional Commissioner Fredrick Shisia.

NACADA noted that drinking such type of alcohol is risky to health and can lead to dangerous consequences including loss of life and blindness.

The crackdown on substandard, illicit, and counterfeit alcohol to safeguard the public from such harmful products shall be intensified.

This will be done by NACADA in partnership with the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) and other law enforcement agencies.

"The heightened vigilance and sporadic crackdowns will continue across the country and anyone found to be complicit will face the full wrath of the law," reads the statement.

The Authority urged the public to share any information that they may have regarding the illegal manufacturing, distribution, or sale of any suspicious alcohol and other forms of drugs to the authorities.

Members of the public can also contact NACADA through the toll-free line 1192 available 24 hours.