Over 70 illicit brew consumers and brewers were on Friday arrested by Lamu police in an ongoing crackdown.
Early this week, police in the county announced a crackdown on illicit brew and drug dealers across Lamu.
Lamu county commissioner Irungu Macharia said the two groups of illicit drugs were still a headache and called for concerted efforts to defeat the trade.
Speaking on Friday, Macharia said there is an increase in unlicensed bars, clubs and liquor dens majority of which don’t observe the Covid-19 protocols.
He blamed the local community for allowing the drugs and illicit brew trades to thrive by providing a ready market.
“If there is no demand like there is right now, then the supply will definitely be unnecessary,” he said.
He warned bars and other entertainment joints found flouting Covid-19 regulations will be closed down.
“The crackdown is still on and the courts will continue processing these cases until people learn their lesson. We want to see a community that’s interested in stopping such trades,” Macharia said.
Men have abandoned their responsibilities to their families as they direct their time and money towards drugs and alcohol.
Though the crackdown is across Lamu county, police have put more focus in Hindi villages including Mbuzi Wengi, Bar’goni, Bobo, Magogoni, Mkondoni and Sheemgambo.
There is also Mpeketoni, Juhudi, Witu, Maisha Masha and other areas of Lamu West and Lamu East’s Tchundwa, Mbwajumwali, Myabogi and Kizingitini villages where such trades are rife.
In a recent announcement, the National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse called on the public to report any illicit alcohol trade to avert deaths.
These followed rise in cases of deaths and hospitalisation due to suspicious alcoholic drinks.
The most notable case is that of August 10 when 10 people died after consuming illicit brew in Nakuru. BY THE STAR
