A multi-agency security operation in Nyeri has impounded 150 crates of suspected counterfeit alcohol at a local bar in Micha trading centre, Ruring’u ward.
The operation involved officers drawn from the National Police Service, Directorate of Public Prosecution, Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Bureau of Standards, National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse and the Anti-Counterfeit Authority.
The team was led by Central Region Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha and the Regional Police Commander Jasper Ombati.
During the surprise swoop that caught business operators at the quiet town by surprise, three suspects (a woman and two men) who had locked themselves in one of the rooms at the premises were also arrested.
Two of the suspects are believed to be employees at the bar, while one is said to have been drinking at the bar during proscribed hours.
The owner of the premises, who was not present during the raid, is said to be operating 20 other drinking joints within Nyeri county, also suspected to be selling counterfeit liquor to unsuspecting clients.
Nkanatha, while speaking to KNA on the sidelines of the sting operation, said the joint initiative would continue until the menace of illicit brews and substance abuse is eradicated for good from the region.
He said the raid was part of the Government accelerated 100 day Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) that was announced recently by President Dr William Ruto early this year to help address the runway of brewing, sale, and drinking of illicit brews early.
“This is an operation that is being carried out throughout the country and as such in the Central Region, and as such this committee has decided to take the lead in order to make sure that our team implements the Rapid Results Initiative to the letter. We have been to Kiambu and Murang’a where we had similar activities. Today we are in Nyeri and we can see the work we were able to do. It was a well-organized multi-agency meeting and we agreed by the end of the RRI period, this place is going to be free of all these vices,” he told KNA.
The Regional administrator said the operation, though set to run for 100 days, will still continue beyond then and ensure all unscrupulous and rogue individuals who are circumventing the laid down requirements and selling illicit and lethal drinks are arrested and arraigned before the court.
He disclosed that intelligence reports had already zeroed on three people who were involved in the production and sale of counterfeit beer in Nyeri and warned that their days are numbered.
Nkanatha further said the team had agreed to be of one mind in combating the proliferation of illicit brews and drugs in the region, and said there will be no letup in the war until those involved in the trade are chased out of town.
“This is one of the three major counterfeiters. We are informed that he is one of the people who are selling poison because if it is substandard beer then that is poisonous. I want to sound the alarm to all of them that we are coming for you. We are also telling our teams that this is the time we need to have honest discussion about the role we are also playing in ensuring that we implement the directive. Should anyone feel that they cannot implement the directive, then they are free to leave the scene and leave it to those who are willing to do the work,” he stated.
The impounded bottles of beer which bore various brand names had Kenya Bureau of Standard and KRA stickers believed to be fake.
Nkanatha said officers from KRA, KEBS, Anti-Counterfeit Authority and those from Government Chemist will in the meantime issue a comprehensive report on the authenticity and safety standards of the drinks once all the necessary processes have been undertaken.
“We have found a lot of products here and we believe that much of it is counterfeit because we have the experts who can attest to that. We have impounded a lot of it and it will be under the custody of the National Police Service so that other agencies can now confirm that what we have here is actually counterfeit,” he said.
At the beginning of this month, the Head of State announced drastic measures towards addressing the manufacture, sale and consumption of illicit brews in the country, terming the menace a national security emergency.
He also announced a major crackdown on the crackdown on illicit brews, drug trafficking and substance abuse and the formation of a specialized Anti-narcotics unit to boost the war on the vice.
By Samuel Maina & Wangari Mwangi
