KENYA – In a joint operation carried out by detectives from the Economic Crimes Unit and officials from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), a shipment of counterfeit alcoholic beverages and a roll of fake KRA stamps were seized in the Kahawa Sukari and Kamulu areas of Nairobi.
One roll of fake KRA stamps, 1,078 bottles of counterfeit alcohol, 630 liters of ethanol, 10,300 empty bottles, and four sacks full of different bottles are among the confiscated goods, according to the police.
“In a raid conducted by detectives from the Economic Crimes Unit and officials from KRA, 1,078 bottles of counterfeit alcoholic drinks, one roll of counterfeit KRA stamps, 630 liters of ethanol, 10,300 empty bottles, and four sacks of assorted bottle caps were recovered,” the DCI statement read in part.
The value of the ethanol and alcoholic beverages that were confiscated is estimated to be over Ksh 500,000 (US$3,344), while the value of the fake stamps is thought to be Ksh 4 million (US$26,755).
Detectives are also actively investigating the origin of the ethanol and the source of the counterfeit KRA stamps.
Law enforcement agencies in the country have been stepping up efforts to nab counterfeit alcohol and prevent its proliferation in the market.
Earlier, Police in Kapsabet, Nandi County, are said to have found an illegal genuine brand of companies worth Ksh 600,000 (US$4,013) at one of the Kamobo area pubs.
Selina Too, the chief of Kapsabet town, claimed that the alcoholic beverages were taken from one of the Kamobo area business owner’s establishments and packaged for sale at neighboring bars.
“We recovered Kenya Revenue Authority stickers, an alcoholmeter, and hundreds of branded cartons for various companies, including Platinum Distillers, Patiala Distillers (K) Ltd., Kenya Wine Agencies (KWAL) Ltd., Kingdom Spirits, and UDV Distilleries,” she said.
In another incident, three women were arrested in Murang’a for being in possession of 83 crates of counterfeit beers as the local administration, the National Police Service (NPS), and members of the public conducted a crackdown on illicit brews within Marema village.
“The operation led to the seizure of 83 crates of Santa King Ice believed to be counterfeit alcohol, five crates without stickers, and the arrest of three female suspects,” read an NPS statement issued on May 27 this year.
In a separate incident, the local government, the National Police Service (NPS), and members of the public carried out a crackdown on illegal brews within Marema village and three ladies were detained in Murang’a for having 83 crates of fake beer.
“The operation led to the seizure of 83 crates of Santa King Ice believed to be counterfeit alcohol, five crates without stickers, and the arrest of three female suspects,” read an NPS statement issued on May 27.
A local newspaper, Nairobi News, also reported another incident in Pipeline Area, Nakuru County, where a raid by detectives with the Economic Crimes Unit resulted in the recovery of over 120 cartons of various alcoholic beverages with fake KRA stamps. This incident happened a week before a seizure on May 27 this year.
The detectives noted that this consignment contained 2 cartons of different bottle caps, 1 carton of Boss vodka, 1 carton of Best vodka, 26 cartons of Bob vodka, and 79 cartons of Spark vodka.
The detectives further stated that the overall tax loss as determined by the KRA is Ksh 342,482 (US$ 2,290), while the estimated worth of the commodities seized as a result of the operation is Ksh 730,000 (US$4,881).
DCI detectives and KRA officials also raided an alcohol manufacturing facility in Athi River and found over 800,000 bottles of alcohol and 130,000 fake KRA stamps.
The consignment of 33,529 cartons, each containing 25 bottles, includes all those without KRA stamps on December 30 last year.
This was done in response to President William Ruto’s order to the police to conduct intelligence-led operations targeting counterfeit goods in November last year.
These seizures highlight the commitment of law enforcement agencies to combat counterfeit goods and maintain the integrity of alcoholic beverages and tax collection processes.
