Fake alcohol worth Sh10 million impounded in Nairobi
Bottles of fake alcohol are displayed in Embakasi, Nairobi on October 18, 2016. Counterfeit alcohol worth Sh10 million has been impounded at Jerusalem Shopping Centre in Nairobi. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The owner of the cargo, Mr Samuel Njoroge was arrested while offloading the cartoons at Jerusalem Shopping Centre.
- Mr Njoroge dismissed claims by Mr Kambi that he had bought the alcohol at a Kenya Revenue Authority auction.
Counterfeit alcohol worth Sh10 million has been seized at Jerusalem Shopping Centre in Nairobi.
The alcohol, packed in 300 cartoons, was impounded by the Nairobi County Alcoholic Drinks Control and Licensing Board officers on Tuesday.
Board member Mr Stephen Kambi said that the owner of the cargo, Mr Samuel Njoroge, who was arrested while offloading the cartoons at Jerusalem Shopping Centre, would be arraigned in court on Wednesday.
SH10 MILLION
Mr Kambi said that the liquor – which had brands including Blue Carpet Gin, First Choice Whisky and Lord Blend Malt whisky – was taken to Jogoo Road Police Station.
“We got a tip-off from members of the public today (Tuesday) concerning a warehouse that had some funny kind of alcohol. We carried out a raid and found 300 boxes of illegal liquor worth Sh10 million,” said Mr Kambi. “As the liquor licencing board, we will ensure that Nairobi is free of harmful and illicit liquor,” he said.
KRA AUCTION
However, Mr Njoroge dismissed claims by Mr Kambi that he had bought the alcohol at a Kenya Revenue Authority auction.
Embakasi West sub-County liquor board chairman Mr Paul Ayiro said that Mr Njoroge neither had an importation license nor a letter to operate such a depot.
He explained that the KRA stickers on the alcohol bottles had not been activated.
“We are yet to verify the authenticity of the KRA stamps on the alcohol bottles,” said Mr Ayiro.
