Security Officers in Embu seize Suspected Counterfeit Beer

Embu,

Friday, December 29, 2023

KNA by Samuel Waititu

Security officers in Embu on Thursday seized 40 crates of suspected counterfeit beer in a storeroom within Siakago Trading Centre in Mbeere North Constituency.

No one was arrested during the raid and police have launched a manhunt for the owner of the storeroom who the officers believe could be the manufacturer.

County Criminal Investigations Officer James Githinji said the development followed a tip-off from members of the public who got suspicious of the activities taking place within the store.

He said they are currently carrying out joint multiagency verification to confirm "that the liquor is unfit for human consumption." 

Mr Githinji said initial investigations by KRA revealed that the stamps appearing on the beers were fake while others have been recycled.

Additionally, the officer said Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) confirmed that the brand was not registered with them.

Consequently, Mr Githinji said they will take samples of the beer to the Government Chemist for further analysis to prove its quality.

County Police Commander Nicholas Maina called on liquor lovers to avoid products from unknown sources to safeguard their health.

He said the crackdown on illicit and counterfeit liquor will go on until the county is rid of the menace that has left many people with lifelong health complications and others dead.

Maina thanked members of the public for the intelligence information that assisted them to make the breakthrough and called for the collaboration to continue.

The CPC warned those engaging in the illegal trade that their days are numbered and soon the law will catch up with them.

Courtesy; KNA