Detectives have today seized a consignment of counterfeit alcoholic drinks and arrested two people linked to its production.
According to a statement from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the main suspect is identified as Nelius Wambui and her driver Mathuku Maingi who was arrested while ferrying the bottles of the counterfeited drinks.
“Over 170 cartons containing thousands of bottles of counterfeited spirits destined for the local market were also recovered following the meticulous operation conducted by DCI sleuths and officials from the Kenya Revenue Authority,” DCI stated.
DCI disclosed that the counterfeited drinks, whose safety to consumers is in question, were packaged in branded bottles popular with the youth including, Konyagi, Triple Ace, Smart Vodka, Kibao among others.
The suspects later led detectives to their bottle collection yard where used bottles of different brands are assembled after being dumped and refilled with the counterfeited drinks.
The two will be arraigned tomorrow.
The operation comes after detectives recovered rolls of counterfeited KRA stamps and impounded machines used in the production of alcoholic drinks while raiding an alcohol production plant in Njiru.
The ongoing crackdown follows President William Ruto’s directives to the police to conduct intelligence led operations targeting counterfeit goods after it was discovered that crooked businessmen had devised new ways of evading taxation.