Police in Busia County have seized 8,000 litres of smuggled ethanol, valued at approximately Ksh 13 million, in a Thursday morning operation led by a multi-agency security team. The consignment, packed in 22 drums and concealed under 57 bags of chicken feed, was intercepted near Busia Town after being illicitly brought into Kenya from Uganda through a porous border point.
The Isuzu lorry used to transport the ethanol, bearing registration number KDB 287U, is currently detained at Malaba Police Station. Western Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamood, who led the operation alongside top regional security officers, expressed concern over the growing trend of contraband smuggling across the Kenya-Uganda border.
“This ethanol is strictly for industrial use, but criminals repurpose it to manufacture counterfeit alcohol, chang’aa, and fake spirits, which can cause blindness, long-term health complications, or even death,” Mohamood warned. Samples of the ethanol have been taken for laboratory analysis.
The truck driver reportedly escaped on a motorcycle during the operation. Police have since launched a manhunt for both him and the owner of the lorry, amid suspicions that the consignment was headed to the Mount Kenya region.
A brief standoff ensued at Malaba Police Station when Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officials demanded the lorry be moved to the Customs yard. However, Malaba OCS Joyce Siyongo insisted that since the police had executed the interception, they would retain custody of the vehicle and cargo pending investigations.
Senior security officials present during the press briefing included Regional Criminal Investigations Officer James Lelia, Busia County Police Commander Ahmed Abdille, Amagoro Assistant County Commissioner Patrick Powon, and customs officials from Malaba and Busia.
In a separate statement, Commander Mohamood also addressed the Gen Z-led protests anticipated in the region. He encouraged organizers to notify police in advance to ensure security is provided, urging demonstrators to exercise their rights peacefully without infringing on the freedoms of others.
Written By Rodney Mbua
