Kicukiro seizes 385,000 litres of ethanol, 31,000 cartons of unsafe alcohol

By The Inspirer.

Authorities in Kicukiro District have seized 385,000 litres of ethanol and more than 31,000 cartons of substandard alcoholic beverages in a fresh operation targeting the production and distribution of unsafe drinks.

The seizure was carried out on Monday at two factories, Kasesa Distillers Distributors in Gahanga Industrial Park and Yego Manufacturing, as authorities step up efforts to keep potentially harmful alcoholic products off the market.

Kicukiro District Executive Administrator Antoine Mutsinzi said the seized ethanol and alcoholic beverages will be removed from the factories, transported to designated facilities and destroyed.

At Kasesa Distillers Distributors, authorities found 793 drums containing 198,000 litres of ethanol and about 28,000 cartons of substandard alcoholic beverages in storage.

“At Kasesa Distillers Distributors, there were 793 drums containing 198,000 litres of ethanol. They also had about 28,000 cartons of substandard alcoholic beverages in storage. We seized them and they will be destroyed,” Mutsinzi said.

At Yego Manufacturing, officials seized another 748 drums containing 187,000 litres of ethanol, bringing the total amount of ethanol recovered from the two factories to 385,000 litres.

Mutsinzi said the operation also included alcoholic beverages previously seized from bars and shops in different parts of Kicukiro.

The latest seizure forms part of a wider government crackdown on substandard alcoholic beverages, amid concerns that unsafe drinks could pose serious health risks to consumers.

Authorities have warned manufacturers and distributors to comply with quality and safety standards and remove products that fail to meet regulatory requirements from the market.

Officials said some operators have attempted to conceal or distribute substandard drinks illegally, but warned that such products will be seized and destroyed when discovered, while those responsible may face arrest.

The latest operation comes days after authorities collected more than 470,000 litres of ethanol in Kigali between August 2 and 5. The ethanol was allegedly being used in the production of substandard alcoholic beverages.

Residents have been urged to avoid alcoholic drinks whose safety and quality cannot be verified.