DCI Raid Nairobi Company Warehouse, Seize Drinks Worth Ksh5.94M

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Thursday, April 13 launched a manhunt for the owner of a company whose godown they raided in Makongeni estate, Thika, Kiambu County.

The raid, according to DCI's statement, saw a consignment of alcoholic drinks bearing fake Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) stamps recovered next to the BAT factory.

Detectives from the Economic Crimes Unit assisted by KRA officials recovered two drums of ethanol, 40 cartons of Euro Brandy Gin and 90 cartons of Sambuka vodka.

Consignment of counterfeit drinks seized by the DCI on April 13, 2023. /DCI

Six cartons of starLight Vodka, 160 cartons of Budget Vodka and 49 cartons of Queens vodka all affixed with KRA Counterfeit stamps were also recovered. 

Also impounded was an illegal bottling machine, half a roll of counterfeit KRA stamps and 36,000 pieces of the same. 

Assorted empty bottles, cartons, caps and drums were also recovered. The value of the goods seized was estimated at Ksh5.94 million and the total tax loss was Ksh2.38 million.

"The products were seized and a notice of offence serial number 7,700 was issued. The bottling plant was also dismantled.  

"Efforts to arrest the owner of the unlicensed business who is believed to be one Joseph Kanja, are at advanced stages," revealed the DCI.

The raid comes two days after DCI detectives and KRA officials intercepted illicit cigarettes worth over Ksh30 million from a house in Kahawa West, Nairobi County.

The cigarettes were believed to have been smuggled into the country before they were seized by the multi-agency team of detectives based at the Economic & Commercial Crimes Unit and KRA officials.

The multi-agency team had first laid a trap by posing as clients who wanted to buy the goods from a woman who lived in the residential area.

"The consignment comprising of over 20,000 packets of popular Supermatch and Palma Safari cigarettes brands was seized by the undercover team posing as potential clients at a residential house along Riara road, near Shra Engineering in Kahawa West, Nairobi County," stated the DCI in part.