Inspectors on Vehicle Check Seize 4,400 bottles of Counterfeit Alcohol worth Ksh 0.9 Million; Van and Driver Held

A multi-agency team in Matuu sub-county in Machakos waylay a van carrying a consignment of illicit liquor following a tip-off.

A raid by Multi-agency enforcement team dealing with illicit trade intercepted a motor vehicle registration number KCY 596D and found 220 Boxes containing 4400 bottles of counterfeit alcoholic drinks of known Kenyan brands in Matuu town, Machakos County. The alcohol approximated to be worth Ksh 880,000.00 and the vehicles were seized and booked at the Matuu Police station. The driver was arrested and is assisting officers with investigations.

The officers drawn from the Kenya Police, the Anti-Counterfeit Authority, the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) acted on a tip-off from local bar owners who suspected the supplier to be selling counterfeit alcoholic drinks. 

The suspect will be arraigned in court once investigations are concluded. The owner and/or the driver of the motor vehicle will be charged with failure to comply with provisions of the Excise Duty Act of 2015 and regulation 30 and 32 of Excisable good management system 2017 laws of Kenya. It is an offence to be in possession of excisable products affixed with counterfeit stamps and conveyancing of the same using a motor vehicle. The Anti-Counterfeit Authority officers will prefer charges against the suspects based on possession of counterfeit goods with the intent of sale in violation of the provisions of the Anti-Counterfeit Act 2008 among other charges.

Mr. Abdikadir Adan, an Anti-Counterfeit Inspector who participated in the raid thanked members of public who shared information leading to the nabbing the notorious supplier saying “These products are often dangerous to the health and safety of consumers. In the past we have had cases of death and loss of sight due to consumption of counterfeit alcoholic drinks”.

He added that; “We shall interrogate the suspect to tell us more about the manufacturing point and to establish the distribution chain to ensure that we get all similar alcohol out of the markets. We want to warn the traders in such a trade that their days are numbered. We shall extend our operation to the retail outlets to ensure that what is sold to our people is safe and approved by the relevant agencies,” said Mr. Adan.

The supplier is believed to have been supplying illicit liquor in various major towns within Machakos, Kiambu and Kitui counties among others.