Licensed firearms holder arrested in Kiambu with fake KRA stamps
A licensed firearms holder, is among six suspects who were arrested on Tuesday with fake Kenya Revenue Authority stamps.
According to the police, the said suspect was arrested at his residence in Thindigua, Kiambu County. He was also found in possession of a Glock pistol, loaded with 9 rounds of ammunition, which was subsequently seized by the police.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and KRA officials said the arrests came following an ongoing crackdown on counterfeit products in the market dubbed ‘Operation Uchumi.’
“Detectives have escalated the crackdown to suspects manufacturing fake counterfeited KRA stamps and arrested six suspects,” the DCI said.
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They were rounded up on Tuesday in different parts of the city and counterfeit stamps including those from Tanzania Revenue Authority and Uganda Revenue Authority recovered.
The suspects were locked at Muthaiga Police Station and were due to be arraigned in court on Wednesday.
Last week, police in Kiambaa, Kiambu County, arrested four individuals found in possession of counterfeit KRA stamps.
The four were arrested following a joint sting operation led by DCI detectives and KRA officials.
“One roll of counterfeit KRA stamps, distillation equipment and chemicals used in the production of counterfeit alcoholic drinks were seized,” the DCI said in a statement.
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“Bottles of counterfeited alcoholic products including Trace Vodka and the popular Chrome Vodka were also recovered.”
The arrests come on the back of a recent directive by President William Ruto who ordered law enforcement agents to rein in unscrupulous businessmen selling counterfeit products to unsuspecting Kenyans in a bid to evade paying taxes.
The taxman in 2021 completed the rolling out of the latest version of excise stamps which are to be implemented in three phases.
The first phase was rolled out on alcohol products in early December, followed by the second phase on soft drinks and water towards the end of December.
The last phase was tobacco and Keg beer products, which was done in February last year.
The stamps have had three reviews with the fourth coming in December last year, where security features have been enhanced.
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