Two suspects have been placed in police custody after officials from the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) intercepted over 1,000 cartons of counterfeit alcohol worth Ksh 2.5 million.
The raid, which was part of a larger festive-season enforcement campaign, targeted a den in Kiamaiko, Nairobi, where the counterfeit products were seized.
According to the ACA, the operation was discovered in a dingy six-storey residential building, which authorities believe was used as an unsuspecting hideout to distribute the products.
The den reportedly supplied fake beverages not only within Nairobi, but also in neighbouring counties and upcoming markets, posing widespread health risks.
ACA Nairobi Regional Manager confirmed the interception, adding that the raid came on the verge of the products being distributed to unsuspecting consumers.
“This was a well-established hub feeding counterfeit alcohol into Nairobi and surrounding counties, with much of it intended for sale upcountry. Removing these products safeguards consumers and protects legitimate traders nationwide,” he said.
Officers noted that the seized products displayed several glaring red flags, including fake labels and a conspicuous lack of safety markings typically found on legitimate alcoholic beverages.
Consumption of illicit alcohol comes with its own risks, as unsuspecting consumers can potentially suffer alcohol poisoning, blindness and long-term organ damage.
According to a 2023 National Consumer Survey, at least one in three Kenyans has unknowingly purchased counterfeit alcohol. A separate survey estimated the country lost Ksh 100 billion annually to counterfeit alcoholic products.
The two suspects behind the operation will be processed for possession and storage of counterfeit goods, an offence under the Anti-Counterfeit Act, 2008.
Several months earlier, police made another bust in Ruiru, where they unmasked an unlawful distillery operating inside a posh residential home in Kahawa Sukari Estate.
During the operation, two people were nabbed by the multi-agency team that included the local administration, as police raised fears that the liquor might have found its way to the local vendors.
