Detectives attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Nairobi have impounded a consignment of illicit liquor in a sustained crackdown in the city.
In a statement, DCI said the Economic and Commercial Crimes Unit detectives jointly with Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officers seized 4,920 pieces of 250ml bottles of counterfeit alcoholic drinks after a raid at a store along Kirinyaga Road on Wednesday morning.
The consignment estimated to be worth Ksh984,000 was escorted to a KRA warehouse pending further action.
"The recovery which comprises mixed brands of the illicit liquor with an estimated value of Ksh984,000 has been escorted to a KRA warehouse, and a seizure notice issued to the suspect," DCI said.
"As the crackdown christened Operation Uchumi heightens, further investigations are ongoing to establish the source of the counterfeit drinks."
The recovery comes a week after a similar operation saw detectives impound over 2,500 bottles of counterfeit alcoholic drinks at a house within Chai estate in Kiambu County.
According to the DCI, the operation was targeting high-level tax evasion schemes by traders dealing in alcoholic products.
"Over 2500 bottles of counterfeit spirits destined for the local market were recovered, following a meticulous operation conducted by detectives from the Economic and Commercial Crimes Unit and officials from the Kenya Revenue Authority," DCI said in a statement on November 18.
"The counterfeited drinks whose safety to consumers could not be immediately ascertained were packaged in branded bottles that are popular among local joints including, Smart Vodka, Supa Vodka, Blue Ice, People Vodka among others."
The officers also recovered 24,000 pieces of counterfeit KRA stamps and 40 litres of Ethanol.
"A seizure notice was issued and the goods impounded as detectives investigate the source of the ethanol and the fake KRA stamps," DCI added.
