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Counterfeit alcohol worth Sh10 million impounded in Nairobi estate

By COLLINS OMULO November 28th, 2018 2 min read

Counterfeit liquor worth Sh10 million has been impounded at Jerusalem Shopping Centre in Embakasi West constituency, Nairobi County.

The alcohol, which were in 300 cartoons, was seized by the Nairobi County Alcoholic Drinks Control and Licensing board officers on Tuesday.

Board member Mr Stephen Kambi said that the owner of the cargo, Mr Samuel Njoroge, was arrested while offloading the cartoons at Jerusalem Shopping Centre and was due to be arraigned before a Nairobi court on Wednesday.

Mr Kambi added that the lorry together with the liquor – which had brands including Blue Carpet Gin, First Choice Whisky and Lord Blend Malt whisky – have also been booked at Jogoo Police Station.

ILLEGAL LIQOUR

“We got a tip-off from members of the public today (Tuesday) concerning a warehouse that was storing some funny kind of alcohol. We made a raid and found the stock which had almost 300 boxes of illegal liquor. We estimate the value of the illicit alcohol to be around Sh10 million,” said Mr Kambi.

He further stated that the owner was operating the warehouse without required documentation, that is, importation and distribution licenses.

“We are omitted as the liquour board to ensure that Nairobi is free from harmful and illicit liquor. We want to urge Nairobi residents and the public in general to be giving us tip-offs and we will act with speed,” he said.

IMPOUNDED

However, Mr Njoroge denied the assertions by Mr Kambi claiming that he bought the alcohol through Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) auction.

On his part, Embakasi West sub-County liquor board chair Mr Paul Ayiro confirmed that Mr Njoroge had no importation license and a letter to operate such a depot.

He explained that the KRA stickers on the alcohol bottles had not been activated.

“We are yet to certify the authenticity of the KRA stamps on the alcohol bottles but we have impounded them and we are taking the cache to Jogoo Police station,” said Mr Ayiro.