Police in Mwea East, Kirinyaga County, have seized a consignment of suspected illicit alcohol during an operation to curb circulation of unsafe alcoholic drinks.
The operation, conducted on Sunday, was led by Mwea East Sub-County Police Commander Henry Gitonga in collaboration with officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Gitonga said officers intercepted a lorry in the Murubara area before it reached its intended destination, recovering 114 crates of Diamond Ice, 200 empty crates, four cartons of People Vodka and nine cartons of People Gin Lemonade.
He said the impounded products are held at Wang’uru Police Station as investigations continue to establish their authenticity, compliance with safety standards and suitability for human consumption.
“We intercepted the lorry before the consignment reached its intended destination. The seized drinks are being examined to establish their authenticity and whether they meet the required standards,” Gitonga said.
The police commander noted that although the alcoholic drinks bore Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) seals, some products were suspected to be counterfeit.
He said investigators would establish whether the seals were genuine and whether the products had met all the legal requirements for distribution and sale.
Authorities are also investigating the source of the consignment, its intended market and whether any offences were committed during its transportation or distribution.
The latest seizure comes barely a week after county police commander Anderson Gitonga led a similar operation in the Karie Kangai area, where another consignment of suspected illicit alcohol was recovered.
The successive operations underscore increased police efforts to curb the transportation and sale of alcoholic drinks suspected to be illegal or counterfeit in Kirinyaga County.
Security agencies have warned traders involved in the illicit alcohol business that enforcement operations will continue, urging them to ensure that products they handle comply with the law and meet the required safety and quality standards.
The authorities say alcoholic drinks that fail to meet these requirements could expose consumers to health risks and undermine legitimate businesses operating within the law.
Police have also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities involving the manufacture, transportation or sale of alcoholic drinks to the relevant authorities.
Gitonga said investigations into the latest seizure were ongoing, with officers seeking to determine the authenticity of the products and establish whether further action should be taken against those involved.
The crackdown forms part of broader efforts by security agencies to prevent potentially harmful alcoholic drinks from reaching consumers and strengthen compliance with regulations governing the manufacture, distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages.
By David Wandeto
