Police from Laikipia County have confirmed taking into custody two persons of interest in connection with illicit brew and narcotics in Nanyuki.

In a statement shared via its X page on Saturday, August 23, 2025, the law enforcement officers revealed that the duo were pounced on following an intelligence-led operation within Likii Estate and Ichuga Shopping Centre.

Taken to custody

“Police officers from Nanyuki Police Station in Laikipia East Sub-County today conducted an intelligence-led operation within Likii Estate and Ichuga Shopping Centre. Two suspects were arrested and escorted to the station for further processing,” part of the statement read.

The police also confirmed seizing further exhibits such as rolls of narcotics drugs

“During the operation, officers recovered three litres of an illicit brew suspected to be chang’aa and 100 rolls of narcotic drugs. The recovered exhibits are being held as evidence at the same facility,” a statement from the police stated.

The crackdown comes days after Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced establishing a special police unit to spearhead the nationwide crackdown on illicit alcohol, narcotics, and adulterated ethanol.

Speaking on Thursday, August 21, 2025, during the Jukwa la Usalama Nyeri edition, the CS announced that a national multi-agency team will besked with conducting coordinated sting operations, targeting manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of illicit substances across all counties.

“We have agreed at the security meeting with the IG and the CEO of NACADA that we are going to establish a special multi-agency team that will include KEBS and KRA, among other agencies, to work together to ensure compliance,” Murkomen revealed.

The CS vowed to ensure continuous crackdowns until the vice is decimated, not only in Central but also in other parts of the country where the establishments are operating with illegal licenses none.

He said the Multi-Agency Team will be coordinated from Nairobi, where the regional and county governments need support.

“Where we feel the need to reinforce, the national team will be called in to support this issue of alcohol in our country.”

Murkomen had earlier hinted at plans to conduct operations in Laikipia County, where he stated that individuals had turned the county into a haven for peddling drugs and narcotics.

“There are still challenges with second-generation alcohol and adulterated ethanol. This problem is very specific, and it’s perpetrated by about five ‘business’ people who are smugglers of adulterated ethanol. One was arrested last evening through a sting operation by a team from Nairobi in cooperation with the local security team. These particular people, for some reason, find Laikipia County a haven for their operations. We have a plan,” he revealed.