Police in Kiambu have busted a syndicate in which drugs coated in biscuits are sold to students.

A sting operation by a multi-agency team in the Juja sub-county netted, among other items, a large consignment of bhang, illicit brews and weapons used by criminals targeting mostly university students.

Kiambu County police commander Muchangi Kioi said 12 suspects have been arrested in the weeklong crackdown and will be arraigned in court to answer various charges.

Among the items impounded were hundreds of litres of illegal alcoholic drinks including chang’aa and bhang packaged in biscuits then sold mainly to students at the nearby Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and other colleges in the neighborhood.

Others were alcoholic beverages labelled ‘Peoples Vodka’, illegal Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) stickers, bottle tops, stolen laptops and mobile phones and an illegal firearm.

Kioi who was accompanied by Juja sub county police commander Philis Muthoni said a crackdown on illicit alcoholic drinks and drugs will be intensified over the festive season, targeting densely populated areas like Mung’etho, Gachororo, Kenyatta Road and Witeithie estates.

“I want to thank our police officers for their tireless efforts. We will not sit and watch selfish people ruin the lives of our young people by selling them these harmful substances,” cautioned the police commander.

Over the last three months, police in the area raided at least five illegal liquor distilleries and impounded manufacturing equipment.

Onesmus Muturi, the marketing director of Platinum Distillers whose brands were among the counterfeited products, says the illegal brewers are running established entities out of business by giving them an unhealthy competition.

“We are asking the courts not to be lenient to the offenders who make the government lose revenue since they do not pay taxes,” pleaded Muturi.

He added that the crooks are also exposing unsuspecting consumers to health risks as their distilling processes are in question.