Three suspects have been arrested in a crackdown on a counterfeiting racket responsible for flooding the Nakuru market with fake alcoholic spirits. A joint task force, comprising officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Nakuru County Investigations Office, and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Enforcement Unit, descended on a nondescript godown along Print Press Road in Nakuru’s industrial area, where they uncovered a counterfeit alcohol production line.
Among the contraband seized were 60 sacks filled with bottle caps, sufficient to supply thousands of bottles of fake spirits, along with two and a half drums of ethanol—a key ingredient in manufacturing illicit liquor—and a plastic molding machine. Officers also discovered meticulously designed labels and stickers for popular alcoholic brands, aimed at deceiving unsuspecting consumers into thinking they were purchasing genuine products.
The suspects, identified as Mary Mugure, Peter Macharia, and Vincent Kibagendi, were apprehended at the scene. According to insiders, this trio had been running the illicit operation undetected for months, saturating the market with dangerous fake spirits. The seized items were swiftly transported to the KRA warehouse under tight security, while the suspects remain in custody, awaiting arraignment in court. If convicted, they could face severe penalties under Kenya’s anti-counterfeiting laws.
As the investigation continues, authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to counterfeit products.
