Alcohol smugglers ditch flashy cars for ambulances to evade police

Kenya has expanded its crackdown on illicit alcohol and drug trafficking across several counties, leading to major seizures and arrests as authorities work to dismantle supply networks they now describe as a growing national threat.

The intensified effort follows a presidential directive that elevated alcohol and drug abuse to the level of a security emergency.

“This menace is destroying our families, weakening our workforce and stealing the future of our young people. We must confront it with the seriousness it deserves,” President William Ruto warned.

Since the declaration, the country has witnessed a wave of intensified crackdowns that have forced drug traffickers and illicit brewers to rapidly adapt.

What began as routine enforcement has now morphed into a cat-and-mouse battle defined by ingenuity on both sides.

Smugglers have shifted to using high-end private vehicles fitted with secret compartments.

Others have been intercepted transporting ethanol and contraband spirits using ambulances, sometimes marked with non-governmental organisation logos to avoid scrutiny, with some even using government vehicles.

Investigators say such creativity is driven by the heightened pressure. One senior police officer described the traffickers as the most innovative criminals the country has seen in years.

National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) Chief Executive Anthony Omerikwa said the President’s declaration fundamentally reshaped the national response.

He called it a turning point that elevated the fight to a level never seen before.

“Indeed, we are at a very critical juncture in the history of our country. For the first time since independence, this war against illicit alcohol has been brought to the forefront as a national security issue,’’ said Omerikwa.

Omerikwa said the President’s directive did not treat enforcement as a standalone solution but provided a wholesome approach to the fight against drugs.

“It looked at the whole spectrum, from demand reduction to supply suppression. It covers an end-to-end space within alcohol and drug abuse,’’ he said.

Statistics from the last three months reveal the magnitude of the problem. More than one million litres of kangara have been destroyed

Officers in multiple counties have seized thousands of litres of ethanol, counterfeit spirits and raw materials used to manufacture illegal alcohol.

“In Uasin Gishu, 827 litres of ethanol were found hidden in a luxury vehicle. In Kitui’s Kabati area, officers recovered more than 900 cartons of assorted spirits and 250 crates of counterfeit alcohol. In Trans Nzoia, more than 400 litres of ethanol and materials used to assemble fake labels were intercepted,’’ said the Nacada boss. He said that 18 high-level suppliers have been arrested since January.

President Ruto has repeatedly emphasised that the government will go beyond small-scale brewers.

“We are dismantling the entire chain, from the financiers to the distributors, to those who use our borders to poison our citizens. This is not a cosmetic operation,’’ he said.

Despite the efforts, new information emerging from briefings suggests that the illicit alcohol and drug economy has penetrated deeper into the political establishment than previously acknowledged.

Senior officers involved in the operation say intelligence reports have for years pointed to the involvement of several high-ranking figures in government, including a handful of governors, in protecting or financing local distribution networks.

Kenya’s porous borders also continue to be major conduits for illegal ethanol and imported spirits. The Coast grapples with maritime smuggling of heroin and synthetic drugs, while Lower Eastern counties have become transit points feeding Nairobi and Central Kenya.

Omerikwa said these regional variations require tailored solutions depending on the drug problem most affecting the specific area.

“What Kilifi faces is not what Kajiado faces. What Kitui is fighting is not what Nakuru is fighting. But the commitment is the same: we will not surrender even a single village to drug barons,’’ he said.

Myths surrounding illicit alcohol remain entrenched in some communities. Many consumers believe certain brews enhance energy or productivity in certain aspects, while others wrongly assume traditional brews are harmless.

Officials say these myths fuel demand and make enforcement more complicated.

Omerikwa further noted that despite the expanded scope of the operation, no new funding has been allocated. Agencies have instead relied on shared budgets, joint patrols and redeployment of existing personnel.

He acknowledged the financial constraints, saying that they have adopted a multi-agency approach to the fight against drugs and illicit brews.

“We are doing this within the means we have because the cost of inaction is far greater. The human cost is unbearable,’’ he said.

To sustain momentum, he noted that the state has increased the deployment of officers to border towns, intensified surveillance on major highways, and widened the crackdown on brewing dens and distribution hubs.

“Chiefs and assistant chiefs have undergone new training to strengthen grassroots enforcement. The national hotline 1192 has become vital, generating community-led tips that have led to major interceptions,’’ he said.

He further urged the public to continue participating in providing tips to the police.

“If you protect a brewer, you endanger your children. This fight is not between the government and small traders. It is between Kenya and the forces destroying its future,’’ he said.

Omerikwa echoed the call for vigilance, saying the next phase will target the financial muscle behind the illicit alcohol industry.

Officials say the operation will continue gaining speed as the government tries to choke off the networks that have long sustained Kenya’s multi-billion-shilling illicit alcohol and drug economy.