More than 400 litres of industrial ethanol were seized and three suspects arrested after authorities uncovered a counterfeit alcohol network in Kenya, according to The Star.
The illegal operation was discovered during a pre-dawn raid in Ngonyek, located in Trans Nzoia County. Officials said the group had turned a residential home into an unlawful alcohol packaging centre.
The raid was led by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) with support from the National Police Service and the Kenya Revenue Authority.
During the operation, officers recovered hundreds of empty 250ml branded liquor bottles, thousands of fake packaging cartons and counterfeit excise stamps bearing the KRA mark. Authorities said the use of forged tax stamps pointed to heavy losses in government revenue.
NACADA Chief Executive Officer Anthony Omerikwa said the action followed weeks of surveillance on the suspected network. He added that the ongoing crackdown aims to shield families and young people from harmful and illegal alcohol.
Omerikwa noted that the home used for the operation was situated between two churches, suggesting it may have been chosen to avoid suspicion. He said such groups often operate quietly within communities while exploiting public trust.
Residents in the area supported the enforcement action, recalling past incidents in which young people reportedly became seriously ill or died after consuming suspected fake alcohol believed to contain toxic ethanol.
All seized ethanol and packaged materials have been sent to a NACADA laboratory for testing. The results will form part of the evidence in court. The three suspects remain in custody and are expected to face charges linked to illegal possession and distribution of industrial ethanol, production of counterfeit goods and the use of fake excise stamps.
