Seven arrested as detectives seize 13,200 litres of ethanol in Thika
Kenyan authorities have arrested seven suspects and seized 13,200 litres of ethanol along with counterfeit cigarettes in an intelligence-led operation in Thika. The raid is part of a broader government effort to dismantle illicit trade networks that threaten public health and tax revenue.
Why it matters
The seizure underscores the growing challenge of illicit alcohol and counterfeit goods in Kenya, which impacts both the economy and public safety.
Some of the 13,200 litres of ethanol seized in Umoja area in Thika West Sub-County/SCREENGRAB Seven suspects have been arrested after a multi-agency security team seized 13,200 litres of ethanol and thousands of packets of suspected counterfeit cigarettes during an intelligence-led operation in Thika West Subcounty.
The operation, conducted in Umoja area, targeted a compound believed to have been used as a storage and distribution centre for illicit goods.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), officers recovered 66 drums, each containing 200 litres of ethanol, bringing the total volume seized to 13,200 litres.
The team also uncovered 17,640 packets of suspected counterfeit cigarettes that had been concealed beneath animal hides inside one of two lorries found at the premises.
The two trucks, believed to have been used to transport the illegal consignment, were impounded as part of the operation.
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