Directorate of Criminal Investigation on Thursday, April 13, issued an arrest alert against an owner of a firm located in Makongeni estate, Nairobi County.
The manhunt was launched following a raid by detectives from the Economic Crimes Unit, where goods valued at Ksh5.94 million were impounded.
According to a report filed by detectives, the raid established that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) had stocked goods without following due process.
Besides bypassing business rules, the owner had allegedly stocked go-down with counterfeit products. The products seized included fake stamps, assorted empty bottles, cartons, caps and drums.
"The value of the goods seized was estimated at Ksh5.94 million, and total tax lost Ksh2.38 million," DCI indicated in a statement.
"Products were seized, and a notice of offence, serial number 7700, issued," DCI further indicated.
Detectives dismantled a bottling plant which they believed was used to manufacture the counterfeited products.
"Efforts to arrest the owner of the unlicensed business are at advanced stages," DCI indicated.
This was the second raid conducted by DCI detectives within a week. On Tuesday, April 11, DCI raided a house in Kahawa West, where Ksh32 million property was recovered.
During the operation, the police first posed as potential clients who wanted to buy the goods before launching the raid.
In the process, the suspect unsuspectingly revealed details of the illicit trade, which police indicated was entered into evidence.
"The undercover team seized the consignment comprising over 20,000 packets of popular cigarette brands.
"Also recovered during the operation were assorted counterfeit stamps from the Kenyan taxman and the Uganda Revenue Authority as well as empty cigarette cartons," read the statement in part.
