Five individuals are in police custody in Wajir County after being apprehended during a targeted operation against illegal alcohol. The National Police Service (NPS) confirmed on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, that the arrests were made in Manyalo Location as part of an intensified effort to combat illicit brews in the region.
The operation, conducted on Tuesday evening, led to the seizure of eight litres of an illegal brew locally known as Kerong’anga. The suspects were escorted to Wajir Police Station for processing, with arrangements underway for their court presentation.
In a statement, the NPS highlighted that officers “conducted a successful operation against illegal alcohol in Manyalo Location” and emphasized their readiness to intensify similar interventions. The agency further noted that the individuals “were placed in custody pending their arraignment in court,” signaling a renewed focus on alcohol and narcotic-related offences.
The crackdown forms part of a wider national campaign targeting alcohol networks and drug distribution routes. The NPS pledged to “intensify its crackdown on illegal alcohol and narcotic drugs across the country,” indicating that operations in hotspot regions like Wajir are set to continue.
This operation comes on the heels of other high-impact police actions across Kenya. In Lamu, officers raided a house in Wiyoni, recovering an assortment of weapons including pangas, spears, metal rods, and a substantial quantity of cannabis sativa. The suspects remain in custody pending arraignment. Separately, a firearm was recovered in Huruma after an individual fled during a night patrol, with police now pursuing leads to apprehend the person involved.
Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities. These operations reflect the police’s commitment to maintaining public safety and dismantling networks that facilitate illegal alcohol and narcotic distribution across the country.
