A team of police detectives in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County Wednesday seized a consignment of contraband alcohol and ethanol worth Sh5 million and arrested two suspects.
The suspects, Douglas Hitla, the driver, and his conductor Josphat Chonjo were rushed to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, MTRH in serious condition after the ill-fated 14-seater private vehicle they were using to transport the consignment lost control and rolled several times along the Eldoret-Kitale intersection.
Confirming the incident, Uasin Gishu County Criminal Investigations Officer Peter Kimulowo said the vehicle was coming from Busia to Eldoret town.
Kimulwo said he dispatched his officers to lay an ambush at the Eldoret-Webuye and Eldoret-Kitale intersection at Maili tisa following a tip-off from members of the public who alerted them about the contraband being ferried to Eldoret town.
He said the Nissan Vehicle which was coming from the direction of Webuye highway towards Eldoret town accelerated before diverting to Kitale highway on sensing the presence of sleuths at the busy Interchange.
“My officers became suspicious after the driver declined to stop at the nearby roadblock, prompting a police chase during which the vehicle lost control and rolled several times injuring the two occupants,” he said.
The police managed to rescue the occupants of the ill-fated vehicle, which was damaged beyond repair and rushed them to MTRH where they are recuperating.
“The two suspects will be arraigned in Eldoret court once they recover, while the contraband alcohol and ethanol were transported to the Eldoret central police station as exhibits,” added Kimulwo.
The wreckage of the vehicle was towed to Soy police station.
Last month, security agencies, led by Uasin Gishu county commissioner Dr. Eddyson Nyale impounded several cartoons of contraband second-generation alcohol being packaged in rental houses in an estate in the outskirts of Munyaka and Sigot sub-location.
The County commissioner expressed concern that Uasin Gishu County was leading in counterfeit goods ranging from alcohol to cigarettes and other goods coming in at night from a neighboring country.
By Kiptanui Cherono
