Over 300 cartons of suspected counterfeit alcohol were recovered after a multi-agency team raided a godown in Makongeni, Kiambu County, on Thursday, April 13.
In a statement, the National Police Service (NPS) said the team consisting of police from Thika West sub-county, and officers from the Kenya Revenue Authority and Anti-Counterfeit Authority uncovered a factory processing illicit liquor at around 11:00 am.
During the raid, several items were recovered, among them 40 cartons of Euro Brand Gin; 90 cartons of Sambuko Whisky Gin; 40 cartons of Queens Tripple Gin; 160 cartons of budget whisky gin; and 6 cartons of Starlight vodka.
The officers also seized more than 3,000 litres of suspected Ethanol and several rolls of fake KRA stamps.
“Also recovered were rolls of Excise stamps (6000PCS); 3 electric water pumps; as well as assorted bottle caps, empty cartons, assorted empty bottles and water pipes,” police said.
The items were confiscated and are in the custody of KRA pending further probe.
The operation came a day after another multi-agency team based at the Economic and Commercial Crimes Unit and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officials impounded a consignment of cigarettes worth over Ksh32 million said to be illegal.
In a statement, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the consignment was impounded along Riara Road near Shra Engineering in Kahawa West, Nairobi.
“The consignment comprising of over 20,000 packets of popular Supermatch and Palma Safari cigarette brands was seized by the undercover team posing as potential clients at a residential house along Riara Road, near Shra Engineering in Kahawa West, Nairobi County,” DCI stated.
The sleuths also recovered counterfeit stamps from KRA and the Uganda Revenue Authority as well as empty cigarette cartons labelled British American Tobacco (BAT), Kenya and Supermatch.
One suspect identified as Veronicah Njeri Kariuki was arrested and detained at Muthaiga police station before being arraigned in court.
According to the DCI, the total tax lost through the smuggled cigarettes is estimated at Ksh18 Million.
