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Police seize fake alcoholic drinks, arrest two women in in Kiambu


Police have arrested two women in connection with the recovery of counterfeit alcohol in Kiambu.

According to a statement from the National Police Service, a multi-agency team conducted an operation on May 27, 2023, at the homestead of one Mr Wanjohi where they arrested the two suspects identified only as Ms Donatha and Ms Grace.

“The multi-agency team conducted an operation in Gitaru area where they seized various items including rolls of Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) stamps, several boxes of suspected fake alcoholic drinks with different brand names, distilling machines and several empty boxes as well as bottle tops,” the NPS statement said.

A week ago, police in Nakuru together with Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officials also seized several fake alcoholic drinks.

In a raid conducted by detectives attached to the Economic Crimes Unit, a wing of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Pipeline Area, Nakuru County, over 120 cartons of various alcoholic drinks with fake KRA stamps were recovered.

The company boasts of being in the Kenyan market for over ten years and was registered under the Companies Act, Cap 486 of the Kenyan Laws in 2009.

“The consignment included 79 cartons of Spark vodka, 26 of Bob vodka, 17 of Best vodka, 1 carton of Boss vodka and 2 cartons of assorted bottle caps were recovered,” the DCI said in a statement.

The DCI further said that the value of the goods seized following the raid is estimated at Sh730,000 and the total tax loss as calculated by the KRA is Sh342,482.

The raid was carried out after officers obtained a seizure notice and have now launched a manhunt for the owner of the unlicensed business.

A source close to the matter told this reporter that the production of the drinks was linked to Nairobi-based Patiala Distillers.

They were yet to confirm this, but most of the materials found at the premises had the company’s branding.

Investigations by Nairobi News now reveal that the company is based in the Embakasi area and efforts to contact them for comment were unsuccessful as they did not respond to our calls or text messages.

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