Security officers in Katulani Sub County of Kitui County have nabbed 741 cartons of suspected counterfeit spirits and vodka liquor, at Wikililye area.
Confirming the incident, Katulani Deputy County Commissioner Shufaa Omar Mwijuma, said they were tipped by a resident of Wikililye market Sunday that there was a consignment of counterfeit liquor that was being stocked in a homestead within Wikililye market.
With the help of police officers from Katulani police station and Wikililye police post, the officers stormed the house and found the cartons each containing 20 bottles of liquor of 250ml capacity per bottle.
Upon the recovery of the suspected illicit alcohol products, Kitui county police commander Leah Kithei sent her officers accompanied by KRA officers from Embu regional headquarters to collect the consignment and take it to Embu, where further tests will be carried out.
In the meantime, Shufaa has warned Katulani liquor business people over selling counterfeit liquor, saying her officers will be carrying out unexpected searches at shops and other premises suspected to be a hide out of the illegal alcohol products.
The recovery of the suspected illegal alcoholic products happens in the wake of recent directives by President William Ruto to security agents to crack down on illicit brews across the country.
The President directed National government administration and other security agents to intensify war on the illicit brews, counterfeit stamps and uncertified products that are harmful to citizens.
The president in a move to cushion Kenyans from the effects brought about by the illicit brew and products not certified by Kenya Bureau of Statistics (KEBS) noted that those taking part in such unscrupulous businesses will be dealt with according to the law under his administration.
Dr Ruto argued that the unscrupulous dealers according to Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) contributes to great loss of revenue and tax collection, accusing those taking part in such businesses of not paying tax.
By Denson Mututo
