20-year-old Man charged with manufacturing alcohol worth over Sh6 Million illegally

Jun 6, 2023 - 15:52

liquor sealing and filling machine was nabbed by police officers at one of the suspected manufacturers of illicit brews in Naivasha. Photo; courtesy.

Naivasha, Tuesday June 6, 2023

KNA by Erastus Gichohi

A 20-year-old man Monday appeared before a Naivasha Law Court charged with manufacturing illicit brews worth over Sh6 million.

Buleti Amson was first arrested by a multi-agency security team at Kirima Estate in Naivasha where he was found manufacturing Moon Ice vodka without a license contrary to the Excise Duty Act of 2015.

Buleti was also charged with illegal possession of counterfeit Kenya Revenue Authority excise stamps and manufacturing of excisable products without a license.

Buleti who was arrested on Friday was found in possession of 46 boxes of 250 ml Moon Ice Vodka, a sealing and filling machine, KRA stickers, moon ice stickers, and 300 liters of suspected ethanol.

According to a report filed in court by enforcement officers from KRA, the illicit liquor which was nabbed at the premise is worth Sh6,251,680.

The report filed by officers Francis Gathua and Jackson Irungu also indicated that KRA had lost taxes worth Sh3,345,513 which could have been paid to the agency inform of Value added Tax and Excise Duty Tax.

The suspect who appeared before Principal Magistrate Juliana Ndengeri denied all the three counts and was released on a bond of Sh200,000 and two sureties of a similar amount and the case set for hearing on June 14.

The multi-agency security team has announced a thorough crackdown on illicit brews and illegal manufacturers in the area after reports put Naivasha as one of the leading hotspots of the illicit liquor trade.

During Madaraka Day celebrations held in Naivasha, Nakuru County Commissioner Layford Kibaara directed the administration officers to effect crackdown on illicit liquor and unscrupulous brewers.

Kibaara said the government will not defend any of its officers who will be found guilty of colluding with criminal traders.

Area MP Jayne Kihara who attended the function raised concern over the increased use of illicit liquor among the youth while calling for strict enforcement measures to root out illegal traders.

Courtesy ; K. N. A