Three arrested as NACADA seizes counterfeit alcohol in Jericho

The suspects, including a woman who was allegedly found mixing and repackaging alcohol, were arrested during an operation conducted on Thursday by officers from the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and the National Police Service.

The team seized 315 assorted counterfeit alcoholic beverages, alongside fake KRA excise stamps, empty bottles and bottle tops believed to have been intended for refilling.

Some of the seized products bore Tanzanian excise duty stamps, raising concerns over possible cross-border counterfeiting and distribution.

The suspects were booked at Jogoo Road Police Station and are expected to be arraigned in court on Friday.

The raid is part of an intensified nationwide crackdown on illicit and counterfeit alcohol, with Nairobi emerging as a particular focus for enforcement agencies.

NACADA Chief Executive Officer Dr Anthony Omerikwa said the Authority had stepped up operations amid concerns over increased consumption of counterfeit and illicit alcoholic drinks, particularly during the electioneering period.

“In response to the upsurge in counterfeit and illicit alcohol consumption in the country, and especially during the electioneering period, we have prompted heightened crackdowns across the country, particularly in Nairobi, which accounts for 55 percent of the consumption of life-threatening drinks,” said Omerikwa.

He said multi-agency teams would continue pursuing manufacturers, distributors and retailers involved in the illicit trade.

“Offenders will have their day in court. We are not relenting in protecting communities against the harms of these killer drinks,” he said.

The Jericho operation came a day after a similar raid in Eastleigh, where 868 counterfeit and uncustomed alcoholic beverages were seized and two suspects arrested.

NACADA has urged members of the public to report suspected manufacturers and outlets dealing in counterfeit alcohol through its social media platforms or the Authority’s toll-free helpline, 1192.

“We cannot win this battle alone. We call upon Kenyans to be our eyes and ears and report any suspicious activities or outlets selling counterfeit alcohol,” Omerikwa said.

NACADA said the enforcement operations would continue in other areas identified as high-risk for the manufacture and sale of illicit alcohol.