Police in Eldoret have confiscated 10 jerricans of ethanol, with an estimated street value of sh.500,000, as a multi-agency operation intensifies efforts to dismantle illegal alcohol distribution networks in the region.
According to Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi, the seizure was made following a tip-off from members of the public, leading officers to a suspicious property in the Annex area, along the Eldoret–Nakuru highway.
The ethanol was discovered buried underground within the compound of an incomplete residential structure, a tactic commonly used by traffickers to evade detection.
Commander Mwanthi confirmed that the same premises had been raided just a month earlier, when a large quantity of illicit alcohol was seized.
Authorities now believe the property may be part of a wider distribution ring operating in the North Rift region.
“This substance poses a serious threat to public health and safety. Ethanol, when used in the production of illegal brews, has been linked to cases of poisoning, blindness, and even death,” Mwanthi warned.
He added that such operations often lack any form of quality control, putting unsuspecting consumers at grave risk.
No arrests were made during the raid, as no one was found on the premises at the time. However, police recovered additional evidence from the site, including plastic containers, funnels, and packaging materials, believed to be used in processing or transporting the illicit brew.
Commander Mwanthi said that investigations are ongoing, and that forensic teams are analyzing fingerprints and other evidence recovered from the scene.
The police have now urged the owner of the property to come forward and cooperate with investigators, warning that failure to do so may result in legal consequences.
This latest seizure comes amid a broader national crackdown on illicit brews and harmful substances, following a recent directive by the Ministry of Interior to intensify enforcement operations across the country.
Local authorities have pledged to continue working with community members to dismantle such illegal enterprises and safeguard public health.
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