Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Wednesday, February 3, raided a company along Kangundo road in Umoja area.
During the raid, the detectives retrieved 80 drums what is alleged to be illegal alcohol as well as Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Stamps.
Sleuths are currently on the ground and are investigating the matter further.
Over the years manufacturers of counterfeit products have put lives of millions of Kenyans at risk, as well as deny companies making genuine products money in terms of revenue.
In 2020, the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) launched an all-out campaign against counterfeit goods and illicit businesses in the country.
ACA Executive Director Elema Halake noted that the country is losing millions of shillings in revenue while at the same time endangering lives of thousands of consumers of counterfeit goods.
“We have sealed border entry points for these counterfeit goods. But some of the counterfeit alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are being manufactured within our borders hence the need for collaboration in stamping out the vice,” he had stated.
In an interview, KRA Deputy Commissioner policy and tax advisory-Domestic Taxes Department-Caxton Masudi stated that rogue players took advantage of the Covid-19 to manufacture fake products.
Nairobi, Nakuru and the Central Kenya region have been marked as hot-spots for these vices.
The incident rekindled memories of multi-millionaire businessman Humphrey Kariuki who was nabbed on allegations of evading taxes and smuggling substandard ethanol products into the country.
Detectives raided the Thika-based offices of Africa Spirits Limited, a company owned by the businessman, where they found smuggled ethanol; 312,000 liters of illicit liquor and 21 million fake Kenya Revenue Authority stamps.
