Police are looking for a suspect accused of using sanitary towels in processing alcohol at an illicit brew den in Mbeere North sub-county.
According to media reports, the suspect, a well-known tycoon in the area, came on the police radar following a tip-off to unearth all the illegal activities the suspect was undertaking at his palatial home.
Police officers raided his factory at Nthawa in Siakago after a tip-off from members of the public who raised concerns over the influx of illegal liquor businesses in the area.
A multi-agency team led by Embu County Commissioner, Eddysson Nyale, and the county police commander, Daniel Rukunga, stormed the premises where the illicit brew was being manufactured after securing a court order.
The Standard reported that officers were following a tip-off that illicit brew makers were using sanitary towels to attract more customers.
Rukunga stated that police were on high alert following the incident, adding that the suspect would be arrested soon and charged.
The police commander noted that the practice of making illicit brews with sanitary towels was making a comeback, warning culprits that they will not walk free.
“Some years back, we raided a plant and found used sanitary towels being used in making alcohol,” Rukunga stated.
On his part, Nyale stated that officers were on high alert over the increased cases of brewers using hazardous items to speed up the brewing process.
“The suspect has evaded several police dragnets but I can assure you, we will not stop here, but will ensure such characters are behind bars,” Nyale stated.
Police also carried out another crackdown where a brew den disguised as a church was raided and assorted illicit liquors recovered.
Nyale stated that the police would not concede in the fight against illicit liquor, adding that more than 10 people had been arrested and five plants closed since May 2022.
Cases of brewers using drugs and other unconventional items to make illicit brews have been on the rise and the government on several occasions carried out raids to crack down on such business.
In January this year, police in Isiolo county arrested a group of people accused of using antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) and conventional medicine to make illicit brew.
During the raid led by Isiolo deputy commissioner, Keffa Marube, a concoction of medicines was discovered inside entertainment joints.
The administrator revealed that the illicit brew traders use ARVs and painkillers while making the banned liquor.
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