Police officers have launched a special operation to curb the rising consumption and distribution of illicit alcohol, a trend residents say has taken root in rural areas, leaving many families grappling with addiction, reduced productivity, and serious health effects, especially among the youth.
In the Chemundu area, intelligence reports led police to a residential house that was being used as a distribution hub for illicit brews.
According to police, the house appeared ordinary from the outside, but inside it had been converted into a secret outlet for selling and distributing the illegal alcohol through the compound, in an effort to avoid detection.
During the operation, officers seized a large quantity of the illicit alcohol, which authorities believe is dangerous and has been linked to poisoning, long-term organ damage, and deaths.
Police say the operation marks the beginning of a wider crackdown targeting manufacturers and distributors of illicit alcohol, who have been changing their tactics to evade arrest.
The county police commander said similar raids will be conducted across six sub-counties as part of efforts to dismantle the entire network involved in the production, sale, and distribution of the illegal brew.
Security agencies have emphasized that public cooperation is key to the success of the campaign, urging residents to provide timely information as the county steps up surveillance and law enforcement efforts.
