Detectives in Busia have arrested a 43-year-old suspect and seized 700 litres of chang'aa worth an estimated Sh175,000 during an operation targeting the transportation of illicit brews in Teso South Sub-County.
The suspect, identified as Brian Wandera Aroge, was arrested after officers intercepted a speeding Toyota Probox during a patrol in the Bondeni area.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), detectives from DCI Busia and Teso South, working alongside Kenya Police Service officers from Adungosi Police Station, flagged down the vehicle, registration number KDB 387M, after it attracted their attention while speeding through the area.
A search of the vehicle uncovered 35 jerricans, each with a capacity of 20 litres, all filled with chang'aa.
The recovered consignment amounted to 700 litres of the illicit brew, with authorities estimating its street value at Sh175,000.
The suspect was immediately taken into custody, while the vehicle and the seized alcohol were escorted to Adungosi Police Station for processing.
"The suspect, together with the vehicle and the recovered consignment, was escorted to Adungosi Police Station, where he is undergoing processing pending arraignment," the DCI said in a statement.
The arrest forms part of an ongoing crackdown on the manufacture, transportation and distribution of illicit alcohol, which authorities say continues to pose serious health and security risks in many parts of the country.
Law enforcement agencies have intensified patrols and intelligence-led operations to disrupt the supply chain of illegal brews and bring those involved to justice.
The DCI reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the crackdown and appealed to members of the public to support the campaign by sharing information on illegal alcohol-related activities.
"The Directorate of Criminal Investigations remains steadfast in the fight against the manufacture, transportation and distribution of illicit brews, and urges members of the public to continue sharing information that helps keep communities safe," the agency said.
The suspect is expected to be arraigned once police complete processing, while investigations into the source and intended destination of the seized consignment continue.