Police in Kiambu East have intensified a crackdown on illicit alcohol and narcotic drugs, seizing 544 rolls of cannabis, 142 litres of muratina and 59 litres of chang’aa in the past two weeks.
The operation has also led to the arrest of 55 suspects, with authorities saying the sustained enforcement campaign is beginning to yield results as the number of drug related interceptions continues to decline.
Kiambu East Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) Elema Sora said the multi-agency operation, which has been running for several months, was aimed at dismantling networks involved in the manufacture, distribution and sale of illicit brews and hard drugs.
Speaking during a briefing to journalists, Mr Sora said police had recorded a significant reduction in the quantities of illicit substances seized compared with the initial stages of the crackdown.
“In the beginning, we were intercepting almost 100 litres or more of chang’aa. In the last two weeks, however, we have seized only 59 litres,” he said.
The police boss attributed the decline to sustained enforcement, saying the operations had helped curb the availability and consumption of illicit substances in the area.
However, he warned that drug dealers were increasingly changing their tactics to evade detection, making it difficult for officers to intercept large consignments.
According to Mr Sora, traffickers who previously transported chang’aa in quantities of five, 10 or 20 litres were now carrying smaller amounts, sometimes as little as half a litre.
The strategy, he said, was intended to minimise losses in the event of police interception while allowing the dealers to continue supplying their customers.
“Nowadays, you will find them carrying half a litre or two litres. They have changed the way they conduct their business, and we have to adapt our enforcement strategies accordingly,” he said.
Despite the reduction in chang’aa seizures, cannabis remains a major concern for security agencies in the region.
Police intercepted 544 rolls of bhang during the two week period, highlighting the continued availability of narcotic drugs despite the intensified operations.
The crackdown also targeted liquor outlets operating outside the law, with four bars found to have violated licensing conditions by opening before or remaining open beyond the permitted hours.
One unlicensed bar was identified, while a separate case involving counterfeit alcohol was also recorded.
Mr Sora said the operation had resulted in the arrest of 55 people, while fines amounting to Sh150,000 were collected during the enforcement period.
He said the figures reflected the broader campaign against illicit alcohol and drugs, which police intend to sustain in the coming weeks.
The latest operation was conducted amid public concern over alleged sales of second generation alcoholic drinks in some establishments in Kiambu East, with claims circulating on social media.
Mr Sora, however, dismissed suggestions that the exercise was prompted solely by online reports, saying it was part of the routine security operations that had been intensified in recent months.
He said officers had increased their numbers during the latest exercise to conduct thorough inspections of liquor outlets.
Journalists who accompanied the officers during the operation witnessed inspections in several establishments that had been mentioned in social media reports.
According to the OCPD, the inspected bars were licensed, and officers did not recover illicit alcoholic drinks during the exercise.
He said the findings underscored the importance of verifying allegations before drawing conclusions about businesses operating in the area.
“We have successfully completed today’s operation, but this is neither the first nor the last. The operations will continue,” he said.
Mr Sora urged residents to exercise responsibility in alcohol consumption and warned against the use of cannabis and other narcotic substances, which he said were damaging the lives of young people and undermining community safety.
He called for closer cooperation between police, local leaders, business owners and residents in the fight against illicit alcohol and drug abuse.
The OCPD said the government’s enforcement efforts would be strengthened through closer scrutiny of liquor licensing and compliance with regulations governing the sale of alcoholic drinks.
He said police would continue working with relevant authorities to ensure that establishments comply with licensing requirements and that those involved in the sale of illicit substances are brought to justice.
The crackdown comes amid growing concern over the social and economic consequences of drug and alcohol abuse, particularly among young people.
Mr Sora said the fight required a collective approach, with members of the public encouraged to report suspected drug trafficking and illegal alcohol distribution networks to security agencies.
He urged residents to support the ongoing campaign to make Kiambu East safer and free from illicit substances.
