NACADA Intercepts Luxury Vehicle Smuggling KSh 1.2 Million Worth of Illicit Ethanol Along Kapsabet Eldoret Highway

NACADA intercepts a BMW smuggling 810 litres of ethanol in Nandi County. Two suspects arrested as CEO Anthony Omerikwa vows to disrupt toxic alcohol networks.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 30, 2026, 3:21 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from TUKO.co.ke

Strategic Interception of High Value Contraband

A multi-agency security operation led by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse, or NACADA, has successfully intercepted a significant consignment of smuggled ethanol valued at approximately KSh 1.2 million. The crackdown reached its climax on the Kapseret–Kapsabet Road after intelligence teams tracked a suspicious white BMW X1 from Kapsabet. Supported by officers from the Langas Police Station, the team discovered 27 jerricans concealed within the luxury vehicle, highlighting a sophisticated shift in how traffickers are attempting to bypass traditional security checkpoints to feed Kenya’s underground alcohol industry.

The Public Health Risk of Second Generation Spirits

The 810 litres of seized ethanol are believed to be the primary raw material for the production of dangerous, substandard second-generation alcoholic drinks. NACADA CEO Anthony Omerikwa stated that these smuggled substances are a cornerstone of the toxic alcohol trade that continues to pose a grave threat to public health across the country. By utilizing porous borders and established corruption networks to import untaxed ethanol, criminal syndicates are not only endangering lives but are also evading millions in annual government revenue, creating a massive underground economy that operates outside regulatory oversight.

Disrupting Criminal Networks Through Asset Forfeiture

Following the successful raid, NACADA has reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling the entire supply chain responsible for the spread of counterfeit spirits. Two suspects were apprehended during the Sunday operation and were scheduled to appear in court on Monday, March 30, 2026. Omerikwa emphasized that the authority is shifting its strategy toward a more aggressive disruption of these criminal networks, noting that all assets seized during such operations, including high-end vehicles like the one intercepted in Nandi, will be subject to state forfeiture to deter future smuggling attempts.