Counterfeit alcoholic beverages, ethanol and fake KRA stamps seized in Thika, owner at large
Detectives attached to the Economic and Commercial Crimes Unit (ECCU) at the Directorate of the Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters have seized a consignment of suspected counterfeited alcoholic beverages, fake execise duty stamps and drums of ethanol at an illegal go down in the outskirts of Thika town.
The during the sting operation, the owner of Sunrise Limited where the contrabands were found identified as Joseph Kanja managed to escape the police dragnet and is still at large.
“Efforts to arrest the owner of the unlicensed business who is believed to be one Joseph Kanja, are at advanced stages.” The DCI said.
“The said factory is in Thika Sub-county next to BAT factory. The items were found in a go down belonging to Sunrise Limited.” A source involved in the operation to The Informer Media Group.
During the raid conducted jointly between DCI officers and their counterparts from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) managed to recover two drums of ethanol, 40 cartons of Euro Brandy Gin, 90 cartons of Sambuka Vodka, six cartons of StarLight Vodka, 160 cartons of Budget Vodka and 49 cartons of Queens Vodka all affixed with KRA Counterfeit stamps were recovered.
Also impounded was an illegal bottling machine, half a roll of counterfeit KRA stamps and 36000 pieces of the same.
Assorted empty bottles, cartons, caps and drums were also recovered.
According to detectives, the estimated value of the goods seized is Sh5.94million and total tax lost amounting to Sh2.38million.
The products were seized and a notice of offence serial number 7700 issued. The bottling plant was also dismantled.
