Detectives drawn from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) raided an estate off Thika Road in an operation to apprehend tax evaders.
Police suspected that a tenant at Chai Estates along Kenyatta Road was producing counterfeit goods and hoarding fake KRA stamps.
In the Saturday morning raid, DCI's Economic and Commercial Crimes Unit recovered 2,500 counterfeit alcoholic drinks destined for local markets.
40 litres of Ethanol and over 24,000 pieces of counterfeit KRA stamps were also seized.
"A consignment of counterfeit alcoholic drinks has been impounded by detectives following an ongoing operation on high-level tax evasion schemes by traders dealing in alcoholic products.
"The counterfeited drinks whose safety to consumers could not be immediately ascertained were packaged in branded bottles that are popular among local joints," DCI stated.
Nonetheless, the detectives did not clarify whether they arrested or launched a manhunt for the main suspects.
"A seizure notice was issued, and the goods were impounded as detectives investigated the source of the ethanol and the fake KRA stamps," DCI added.
Prior to the operation, the DCI raided a residential property at Kayole’s Sabian Estate, where illegal consignments projected to evade taxes worth Ksh.4,978,400 were confiscated.
Detectives, on October 18, also seized over 2,000 empty bottles and 800 bottles of counterfeit alcoholic drinks in the estate.
Four days before the raid, the authorities also seized a total of 1,078 bottles of counterfeit alcoholic drinks, one roll of counterfeit KRA stamps, 630 litres of ethanol, 10,300 empty bottles, and four sacks of assorted bottle caps recovered in Kahawa Sukari.
The operations come at a time when KRA and DCI are working to maximize tax collection to boost economic recovery.
