A suspected dealer in illicit brew risks losing his four-acre parcel of land to the government through The Proceeds of Crime and Anti Money Laundering Act of 2009 after 55,000 litres of kang’ara and 500 litres of chang’aa were impounded in his land.
The brew was impounded during a multi-agency operation in Mwasiongi village, Bomorenda ward, Bonchari constituency, Kisii County.
Speaking at the scene of crime Thursday after apprehending 5 suspects, the National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) CEO Antony Omerikwa said that the Act gives the government power to repossess the crime scene because it was deemed to be an accessory to the actual crime.
Omerikwa described the area as a massive production site where the many drums of kang’ara liquid meant to be precursors to the production of chang’aa were hidden.
“Today is another very successful day for the proverbial long arm of the law,” he stated.
The CEO appealed to the members of public to volunteer information on all criminal activities going on in their areas to the members of the multi-agency team which is comprised of NACADA, national police service and National Government Administration officers.
He warned that the efforts to deter the illicit brew trade in the country would continue. “But we will look for the owner of the property whom we did not find on site and initiate the process to repossess this piece of land to build a school, a social hall, or any other project that is beneficial to the community around,” he said.
Others present were Kisii South Sub County Deputy County Commissioner Grace Ouma and NACADA’s Head of Enforcement Nicholas Kosgei.
By Jane Naitore
