A multi-agency team uncovered a substantial cache of counterfeit spirits, valued at approximately Ksh 5.28 million, during a daring daylight operation in Kitengela town.
The intelligence-driven raid, which occurred on Tuesday around 11:00 am, targeted local wines and spirits shops. It was led by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), in close collaboration with enforcement officers from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the National Police Service (NPS).
Some shop owners apprehended during the operation guided the officers to a hidden storage container in the town. When opened under supervision, the container revealed an industrial-scale stockpile of suspected counterfeit alcohol.
The impressive haul included 528 boxes of various popular spirit brands, comprising 230 boxes of Trace Vodka, 107 boxes of Dalas Brandy, 44 boxes of Supa Vodka, 22 boxes of Rider Vodka, 85 boxes of Triger Gin, and 12 boxes of Tiger Vodka. Each box contained 20 bottles of 250ml, indicating a sophisticated distribution network aimed at flooding the market with dangerous, substandard products.
The KRA enforcement team took custody of the entire consignment, which was subsequently escorted to the KRA yard in Nairobi for further investigation and eventual destruction. Simultaneously, officers from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) collected numerous samples for rigorous laboratory analysis to confirm the products’ authenticity and assess any public health risks.
NACADA Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Anthony Omerikwa, attributed the success of the operation to a broader government initiative. He stated that it forms a crucial part of the ongoing Rapid Results Initiative (RRI), directed by the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Kipchumba Murkomen.
“This successful operation in Kitengela, now on the 70th day of the Rapid Results Initiative, is a clear testament to our sustained resolve,” Dr. Omerikwa declared. “The RRI, under the firm guidance of CS Murkomen, has galvanized our multi-agency approach, leading to impactful results that safeguard our communities.”
Issuing a stern warning to those engaged in the illegal trade, the CEO was unequivocal: “To all the merchants of death involved in the criminal counterfeiting and drug sale business, hear this clearly: NACADA is coming for you. Your days of profiting from the health and lives of Kenyans are numbered. We will pursue you, we will find you, and we will ensure you face the full force of the law. This seizure is just the beginning.”
