DCI Recover Fake Alcohol Disguised As Popular Brands During House Raid

A consignment of counterfeit alcoholic drinks has been impounded by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

The raid, according to DCI's statement on Wednesday, October 18, is part of an ongoing operation on high-level tax evasion schemes by traders dealing in alcoholic products.

Over 2,000 empty bottles and 800 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.

A consignment of fake alcohol recovered by DCI detectives on October 18, 2023. /DCI

"The counterfeited drinks whose safety to consumers could not be immediately ascertained were packaged in branded bottles that are popular among local joints including, King Horse, Blue Star, King Vodka, Nest Vodka, Chrome Vodka, Blue Ice Vodka, Triple Ace, People Vodka among others," stated the DCI in part.

The sleuths also recovered 26,000 pieces of counterfeit KRA stamps, 1,080 litres of Ethanol, 2 sacks of well-packaged assorted bottle tops and assorted labels of different alcoholic brands. 

Earlier, the multi-agency team acting on intelligence had raided a residential property at Kayole’s Sasian Estate, where the illegal consignments that were projected to evade taxes worth Ksh4,978,400 were confiscated.

A seizure notice was issued to the owner of the property and the goods were impounded as detectives investigated the source of the ethanol and the fake KRA stamps.

On Friday, September 1, police staged multiple raids in Kiambu and Murang'a Counties while sustaining the war on illicit brew and drugs across the country.

In Kiambu County, police seized suspected counterfeit alcohol from different brands after a raid conducted by the officers, which saw the recovery of 182 cartons of counterfeit alcohol in different brands as well as 240 litres of spirits in jerricans.

"Other items recovered in the house include fake KRA stickers, over 1,000 bottles of different brands of spirits and over 2,000 bottle tops," the National Police Service (NPS) stated in part.

In a similar crackdown within Murang'a County, NPS in conjunction with Anti-counterfeit Officers also impounded several cartons containing uncustomed goods (cigarettes) categorised as excisable goods.

The raids are part of authorities' efforts to rid the country of counterfeit alcohol and drugs, with some revellers raising concerns that the fake alcohol is finding its way to high-end lounges and nightclubs across the city and in various parts of the country.

Fake liquor is a growing problem in Kenya, and it can be challenging to tell the difference between genuine and counterfeit liquor.

Counterfeit liquor poses a severe health risk to consumers and can cause a wide range of health problems, from mild illness to death.

Counterfeit alcohol and cigarettes recovered during police raids in Kiambu and Murang'a Counties on September 1, 2023. /NPS