Merchants of death who peddle poison packaged as beer

The traders buy methanol or formalin used to preserve bodies in mortuaries and dilute it with water before selling it as spirits. The chemicals are easily available in Nairobi as CCI established, writes PATRICK MATHANGANIDays after seven people died in Kiambu after drinking illicit brew, the dark secrets of the underground trade in lethal brews can be revealed.In an undercover investigation, CCI ventured into dark alleys of Nairobi’s Eastlands neighbourhoods, and unearthed shocking details about the deadly practice.Merchants sold us Formalin, a toxic chemical used to preserve bodies and laboratory specimens and described to us how to make potent brews using the substance. Also being peddled in the underworld is Methanol, the highly poisonous industrial chemical that has been responsible for loss of eyesight to those who drink tainted brews.One supplier of the chemical, who also doubles up as a brewer in Dandora, sold us a five-litre jerry can of Methanol for Sh6,500.Our investigation, coming before the death of seven people who drank contaminated drinks in Kiambu, offers insights into how the illicit trade operates.It is hard to penetrate the cartels, since trade secrets are leaked only to trusted friends. However, with the help of an insider who introduced us as newcomers who could be trusted, we were able to learn finer details of how the unlawful brews are prepared and where ingredients are bought.Rushing the processOne dealer explained there are usually two types of drinks sold illegally. One is the traditional liquor, such as muratina, which has to go through a fermentation process. If proper methods where sugar, the fruit of a tree called Muratina and honey are used, the process takes about a week to mature. Then there are the spirits, which pass off as chang’aa. Chang’aa is a clear, potent spirit that also takes time to prepare through a painstaking, traditional distillation process. However, the dealer said to cut on costs and time, the underworld distillers add formalin or methanol. However, he said formalin was the more preferred of the two, claiming it has not been cited in cases where people died after consuming the drinks."If you are in business, you can’t afford to wait for seven days," said the man, who boasted he has been in the trade for seven years. We learned that the brews are not distilled at all. Those operating chang’aa dens where the drinks are sold simply make a solution of water and formalin as their customers wait.Formalin is itself a solution of water with about 40 per cent formaldehyde, a chemical believed to be carcinogenic. To prevent further chemical changes, methanol is at times added to industrial formalin. Just like ethanol (the substance contained in licit liquor), formaldehyde is a carbon compound that produces a "euphoric effect" when consumed. People drinking it with a mixture of legal alcohol may not easily know they are taking a toxic substance.Several sources said the chemicals are smuggled from industries and transport trucks in Nairobi and sold in the black market. Formalin also is used as a disinfectant, and is often used in aquariums to prevent growth of undesirable bacteria.Losing sightAlso known as wood alcohol, methanol is widely used as an industrial solvent.Ingestion causes nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. It also affects the central nervous system, causing victims to lose sight.In the Kiambu case last week, Naivasha MP John Mututho said he suspected the drinks, which killed seven people, had been laced with methanol.More than ten went blind.In Dandora where we bought the chemicals, stiff warnings were issued on the use of methanol, which the dealers agree is highly poisonous. The dealer said he had noted the health effects of the chemicals, and said his customers appeared to have swollen cheeks.But why does he sell the drinks if he knows they are lethal?"If somebody likes it, let him drink. We are just making a living," he said. "The profits after the shortcut are handsome," he added. Later, he asked us to wait for him at one of the local bus stages as he brought the methanol, discreetly wrapped in a plastic bag.Before handing it to us, he repeated the warning that we only add very small portions of the chemical to about 20 litres of water."Two spoonfuls are enough. You don’t want to land in trouble even before your business takes off," he said.Then, he slithered away and got lost in the crowds and alleys that make up much of Dandora. Bar owners pass off the resulting stuff as chang’aa.However, our tests in a private laboratory established the methanol was already diluted. Using an instant testing kit, the liquid turned black, indicating indeed it had methanol. When we dipped a piece of fresh liver on a container with the concoction, the liver changed colour appearing to be cooked within five minutes. To make muratina, which sells at a relatively higher price than chang’aa, a dealer in Kariobangi repeated remarks that it would not be economically viable to brew the drink for up to seven days. But the concoction being sold today is a far cry from the traditional brew.Giving his name only as Maina, he provided three raw materials: molasses laced with formalin, muratina and a white substance he said would speed up the fermentation process. He said he did not know what the white substance was, but assured he had used it for years."Don’t worry about the details," he said. "With these, it will only take a day before you can serve it." Traditionally, muratina was used among the Gikuyu for merrymaking during dowry paying parties and religious ceremonies.Brewers used honey, the muratina fruit and sugarcane juice. It was a healthy drink.Maina, who said he was a large-scale supplier of third-generation spirits, said the business was making good returns. He said he was also packaging ethanol, to which he adds food colours and water. Since he is not licensed, he said he makes the drinks secretly at home.Printing labelsEthanol, however, is sold legally. Those interested in making their own drinks through hygienic methods check for procedures in the Internet, which has thousands of do-it-yourself tutorials. Labels are printed separately, he revealed, adding he was also able to get Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) certification stamps in the black market. They are readily available, and The Standard bought several of these stamps for another investigative story last year. In the recent Kiambu case, the lethal drink was reported to have had KEBS certification.According to the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, commonly referred to as Mututho Law, anybody manufacturing alcohol must be properly licensed. Even those allowed to make traditional drinks must have their premises inspected before approval.One source said brewers were paying thousands of shillings in protection money to police officers. They then allow them to distil without licenses, or to operate beyond hours allowed by the Mututho law.It specifies that bars should open at 5pm and close at 11pm. Failure to observe the law attracts hefty but varying penalties depending on what section is broken.

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