The rise and rise of counterfeit alcohol in Nakuru
Drums of ethanol that were nabbed by KRA in Mai Mahiu on November 21, 2023.
This year, Nakuru has been the scene of several cases where police and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officials have seized counterfeit goods.
These consignments were seized as they passed through Nakuru or at the houses where they were stored. In most cases, counterfeit KRA stamps were also found. We take a look at some of the incidents this year.
Counterfeit alcohol found in pipeline area.
On 10 May, in a joint operation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation detectives from Nairobi and Nakuru, together with KRA officials, seized counterfeit alcoholic products in the Pipeline area.
The officers' raid led them to a secluded private house where an illegal liquor distillery was being used to produce fake alcoholic drinks. Valued at Sh615,000, 100 cartons of alcoholic beverages with fake excise stamps were seized from the house. The brands of alcohol produced and packaged at the house included 14 cartons of Best vodka, 29 cartons of Bob vodka, 79 cartons of Spark vodka and one carton of Boss vodka.
In addition to the counterfeit alcohol, KRA officials and police officers also seized a consignment of locally manufactured cigarettes with fake excise stamps. The cigarettes were said to be worth millions.
Also Read: Nakuru County: Home of Fake Products
A consignment of ethanol seized in Upper Hill area.
A consignment of ethanol was seized while being transported in the Upper Hill area. In addition to counterfeit alcohol, KRA officers also managed to seize untaxed ethanol in transit through Nakuru on several occasions. On May 15, police confiscated 9000 litres of ethanol worth an estimated Sh3.9million in the Upper Hill area after the driver of the truck carrying the ethanol lost control and ended up in a ditch. The 36 drums of ethanol, each containing 250 litres, were concealed by six bags of maize during transportation.
In the same case, KRA officials seized 15,000 litres of ethanol worth Sh6.7 million on November 22. The goods had been smuggled into the country from Tanzania and were seized in transit at Mai Mahiu.
Counterfeit cigarettes.
On December 9, patrols by KRA officers led to the seizure of 47 cartons of counterfeit cigarettes worth Sh7 million. Counterfeit KRA stamps worth Sh2.4 million were also recovered from the private residence. According to Nakuru County Commissioner Loyford Kibaara, each box contained 10,000 sticks in super match packets.
He revealed that the cigarettes were destined for export to the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Ugandan market, but were also repackaged for local sale. In a telephone interview, Mr Kibaara told Mtaa Wangu that the fight against counterfeit products has been intensified across the country.
"The fight against illicit trade and counterfeit products is being led by an inter-agency team comprising officials from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and the security apparatus. We will continue the crackdown to ensure that we weed out individuals involved in illegal trade in the county," he said.
He also thanked members of the public for coming forward with information that led to the arrest of the individual. He, however, revealed that there is a challenge with the justice system in punishing the offenders once they have been arrested.