Police in Webuye Town, Bungoma County have made a major seizure after impounding a lorry loaded with a huge quantity of suspected illicit ethanol a substance commonly linked to the production of illegal alcoholic drinks.
According to a statement from the National Police Service (NPS), officers became suspicious after spotting an unattended truck parked near a petrol station on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. Upon closer inspection, they discovered 32 large barrels, each holding about 250 litres of a clear liquid believed to be ethanol a total of around 8,000 litres.
The vehicle and its cargo were taken to the Webuye Police Station, where authorities are conducting forensic analysis and verification to determine the exact composition of the liquid and whether any laws were violated.
Police say the size of the haul indicates it may have been part of an unlawful supply chain, possibly intended for the illegal manufacture or distribution of alcoholic products without proper regulation. Efforts are now underway to trace those responsible including establishing the registered owner of the lorry and identifying the driver who abandoned it.
While ethanol has legitimate industrial and commercial uses, authorities stress that its diversion into illegal markets can pose serious public health risks and undermine tax and regulatory systems.
The NPS says investigations are ongoing, with a focus on dismantling networks behind the unlawful transportation of such substances
