Kericho police are holding a man who was arrested with hundreds of bottles containing counterfeit brew.
The man who was intercepted at Chepsir area along the busy Nakuru-Kericho highway was said to have been ferrying some 420 cartoons containing the counterfeit liquor which according to police was estimated to have a street value of over Sh 900,000.
Confirming the incident Londiani sub-county police commander Juma Londo said police, acting on a tip off, found the suspect identified as Samson Mutuka in the driver’s cabin of a parked lorry at Chepsir area and upon conducting a search recovered 420 cartons containing thousands of bottles of counterfeit brand ‘Best’ spirit.
“Officers from Londiani police station received information that there was a parked motor vehicle registration number KCK 786V suspected to have been ferrying an illegal commodity headed to Kericho direction at Chepsir area. When they arrived at the area they found the driver whom they ordered to open the back of the lorry whose make was an Isuzu LF. Upon conducting a search, they discovered bottles of ‘Best’ spirit brand parked in cartons whose value is said to be worth Sh 982,539.” said Londo.
He added, “The lorry was seized and booked at Chepseon police station and the driver is assisting police with investigations and will be arraigned to court on Monday”.
The sub-county police boss revealed the consignment of 420 cartons each contained 20 pieces of ‘Best’ spirit brand bottles, all without KRA stamps.
This move follows President William Ruto vow last year in November to deal firmly with ending counterfeit alcohol and drugs in the country.
By Sarah Njagi
